The Incredible Power of Fishing with Family

Lessons in Linguistics, A reflection by Billy Snead

I recently enjoyed a week off from work to take a vacation.  A few friends, relatives, my oldest son and his three boys ages 8, 10 and 12, traveled from Iowa to NW Ontario, Canada to a remote lake to catch walleyes and northern pike.

We had so much fun.  It was a relaxing week building memories.

Since I have been attending Dr. Rob Longs Linguistics class the past few weeks I tried to weave linguistics into my trip to help me learn certain principles and work on observing linguistics in everyday life.  I took books and articles to read at night and really enjoyed looking at my trip through a linguistics lens.

What I learned-

Fishing isn’t just about casting lines and catching fish-it’s a rich tapestry of experiences, bonding, and life lessons. When you take your son and grandsons on fishing trips, you’re not only creating cherished memories but also delving into the fascinating world of linguistics.

I saw fishing as a metaphor for language and communication.

Patience and Persistence

Fishing as a Metaphor:

• Just like waiting for a fish to bite, language acquisition requires patience.  Walleyes bite softly at times so it was a challenge to teach my grandsons how to “feel” the bite and stay with it to catch more fish.
• We cast our linguistic lines-learning vocabulary, grammar, and local expressions-hoping for understanding and fluency.
• I encouraged my grandsons to persist, even when the bites (or language challenges) seem scarce.

Nonverbal Communication

The Silent Language of Fishing:

• On the water, words often take a backseat. Instead, we communicate through actions.
• A nod, a shared smile, or a synchronized cast -these nonverbal cues convey meaning. There was a whole lot of teasing and competition as we all tried to catch the biggest fish!
• Similarly, body language and gestures play a crucial role in spoken language.  Fish On!  Yelled by on of our crew was heard throughout the day.

Cultural Context

Fishing Traditions and Language:

• Every fishing spot has its lore, its unique terminology.
• I taught my grandsons about local fishing jargon-the names of lures, knots, and techniques. My youngest grandson even made up his own fishing technique called the “ignoring technique”, where you cast your line and set your pole down and check on it periodically- he out fished us all on most days!
• Just as dialects vary across regions, fishing lingo reflects cultural nuances.

Stories by the Campfire

Oral Tradition:

• Gather around the campfire after a day of fishing.
• Share stories of the one that got away, the biggest catch, or the legendary fish.
• Storytelling mirrors the way language evolves -passed down through generations.  We had story time all week where on of our guys would tell a story about past trips, big fish and memories of family no longer with us.

The Art of Observation

Reading the Water:

• Experienced anglers read the water’s surface -ripples, currents, and disturbances.
• Similarly, language learners observe context, tone, and social cues.  In our linguistics class this past week we practiced discourse analysis.  I learned so much about language at this class.
• Encourage your family to be attentive listeners and keen observers.

Conclusion

Fishing with your son and grandsons isn’t just about hooks and lines; it’s about weaving connections, understanding nature, and embracing the language of life. As you cast your lines into the water, remember that language, like a river, flows through time, carrying stories, memories, and shared experiences.

It was a great week for me learning more about linguistics through my little guys and big guys!

My son Nate with a 37 inch pike

My grandson Jack in the middle listening to language and learning fishing tips and tricks

My oldest grandson Sammy with a 25 inch walleye 

I purchased fishing journals for the 3 little boys and all of us helped them complete them each evening.  I challenged them to write a story about the secret island of Nungesser Lake.  As a grandpa, I was proud to see all of the guys helping them spell words and figure out how to write and present their ideas.

Language is so important –

Last night in our linguistics class with Rob we discussed articles and policies that we individually completed a discourse analysis on-

It was one of the best SPOR moments I have ever had in a class- to see how bad safety uses language and the form it takes certainly matters in what we do- we must know linguistics to be more effective in our work!

Linguistic Fishing Wisdom: “Language is like a fishing line – cast it skillfully, and you’ll reel in understanding; tangle it, and you’ll be left with linguistic knots.

Billy