Up my alley

February 28, 2022 by Cassandra Johnson

The evening at the DC Wharf with my best friend with fireworks, mouthwatering dinner, comforting conversation and a touch of soccer was delightful leisure to my senses. Saturday was so good. Then Sunday (yesterday) was a complementary second. I was finally getting my chance!

My love of linguistics is mirrored in a building I did not think I would be seeing quite so soon. When my cousin told me about one of DC’s newest installments, I knew this would be on my local bucket list as I landed hopefully on their landing page.

I could see like the National Museum of African American History and Culture that had come to fruition, with the telling of aspirations, struggle, and achievement as an addition to the other historical museums that held some of the African and African American chapters, this museum, Planet Word, would also have a waitlist. There would be the free release of tickets during a certain time span each day, just like the former, so there was the element of perhaps getting lucky in advance, planning way in advance, or getting a legit hookup. Fortunately I did get lucky enough, a few years ago to go to the National Museum of African American History and Culture with a friend who had extra tickets. This time, I made a note to sign up sometime in advance to feed my language/culture admiring self. Still, the best-laid forgotten plans. I inadvertently put it on hold. I figured things may have changed recently and though the notice was short, how nice would that be if the date of my birthday was still open. Button after button, I could see my transaction was going through. Voila! I clicked 2 tickets just in case.

There I was. A few metro stops. Right on my home line and hello Sunday. I stood under the whispering willow tree. This is your welcome mat. You hear the whisper of words in various languages as you walk underneath the large structure on your way inside.

I went into the front and the kind concierge looked up my ticket as I had my vaccination card and ID in hand, before she could barely say she needed to see them. She gave me several directions, including to start on the 3^rd floor and work my way down.

It would be an understatement to say how fascinated I am with language, culture, linguistics, and the like. This museum was made right up my alley. Even in the elevator, the surrounding bookcase-like structure captured my imagination. [spoil alert inserted here: just in case you enjoy the surprise element with your tours] Stepping into a room with a large circular word structure, the interactions begin. There were several language stations with taped speakers that gave you a chance to learn their language, My second language of Spanish was first or perhaps my station coincidentally began there. Next was Portuguese, followed by Piscataway, an endangered indigenous language of the native people of the southern Maryland area in which words like Chesapeake still live on. The representative of the language brilliantly relayed some more mainstay words of a language sadly now only spoken by less than 1000 people. (I am grateful for him). I was also warmed to see Quechua had been included, an indigenous language of Peru, still spoken there. I learned a bit while when I was Peru hanging out with several of the guys who speak it predominantly.

Next I was heartened by the endangered interactive language exhibit. The strides some people have taken to undo language repression underscores a strength I cannot begin to imagine when enduring so many other psychological and physical barriers.

I wandered into the room with the 22-foot tall wall of words (also interactive!) learning about the origins of most of American English and some interesting contributions and borrowed words with origins not even remotely apparent. The wall had a sense of humor as well.

Speaking of, we were schooled a little more on the language of jokes and enticed into exhibits and invitations to pose with props that challenge your friends and family to a laugh and to decipher trivia. I realize at this point I did neglect to mention the video of the evolution of baby talk and language development, which meets you when you step onto the third floor. Babbling is key among our many steps and we are informed how deaf children babble with their hands. The cuteness of this collaged video exhibit was a little hard to leave honestly. Side note.

Now back to leaving the 22-foot tall wall of words, there were quite a few options (I will need to make repeat trips to savor everything which to me is one of the great dimensions about DC museums along with the perk of many of them being free). I entered the karaoke plus performance room. With artists such as Katie Perry, Outkast, and One Republic, you could select your own to perform, jukebox style, or see the performance playing out on the stage in front of you. We were surrounded by a further breakdown of language etched on the walls, touching on similes, puns, and other intriguing twists and inventions we have developed along the way. The room of public speaking was now on my right: Think “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ear”. I actually need to explore this more on my next stop.

The room of significant books throughout our human years stole my attention. I will own that I am quite sensitive, both good and bad, quite a bit nostalgic, and always will be. Making my way down each floor, I still have some places to go. As I look forward to more, I thank you for sharing even more of your time with me.

Your Museum Link:  Planet Word