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What made you decide to learn
Cantonese?
Well, it was thrust upon me really. On the pitch it was important
to learn some of the swear words really quickly! Although the language
barrier in football is not great – communication tends to
be visual rather than verbal (tactics boards are easy to understand
in any language), it was helpful to learn how to greet other players
etc. So I learned the basics. When we were recently in Canada on
Cardiff City’s pre-season tour, (where Cardiff played a China
under-21 side) I met someone I’d known in Hong Kong. I was
able to talk to him and answer some of his questions. It was difficult
to keep up my Cantonese though after I’d left as it is such
a difficult language.
Did you find players’ attitudes to you changed because
you’d made the effort to learn their language?
Definitely. It helps you to integrate better.
Did you learn French at school?
Yes, and then I had a teacher come to my home for two years while
I was manager at Southampton. I wanted to learn so I could speak
to the French players we had there. I think it’s only polite
to try and converse in a small way in other people’s language.
Although the tactics etc are all conducted in English, if the players
were feeling tired I needed to know.
I have an agent in France who I deal with a lot, and whenever I
go on the Messenger, I greet him in French, starting with “Bonjour,
ça va?” because I don’t want to write in English
to him. He always answers me in English though!
Do you think it’s important for young people to learn
languages?
Yes. My daughter (12) is currently at school in South Wales. Her
best friend is Japanese, so she’s learning Japanese from her
and helping her with her English. Now my daughter has a fascination
for Japan, as well as learning French at school. I think it should
definitely be on the curriculum. It seems crazy to allow pupils
to choose to stop doing languages at 14. I do think it helps anyone
to speak other languages and it will help you in a job.
Have you ever thought of managing abroad?
I’ve had the opportunity once or twice to go abroad. When
you go abroad you are shadowed by an interpreter for as long as
you need it. I’ve played under a coach who used an interpreter.
Did it make a difference?
It’s not ideal, but as I say, once you get the tactics board
out, football is a universal language. I think it’s important
to be able to give players encouragement in their own language though.
I suppose the language is most important once you get outside the
football club? Yes, that's where I expect people like David Beckham
and Michael Owen (who learned Spanish at Real Madrid) will use their
Spanish to get by – in restaurants and ordering their coffees.
Are there any other reasons why you think languages are
important?
It is important and it’s great to be able to converse with
people when you go on holiday. When my daughter was learning Spanish,
she was able to order things in restaurants and cafés when
we used to go on holiday there. It’s good to know what people
are saying about you too.
Thanks very much for talking to us, Dave, and the very best of luck
for the season with Cardiff City.
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