05 Feb 08
Originally posted by PalynkaI feel and think differently when I use different languages. I wouldn't go as far as saying that my identity changes, but it goes deeper than a change of the social persona.
I wouldn't say that my identity changes when I change languages (let alone expressions of the same language) but my social persona changes considerably depending on the language I speak. Even in similar social situations.
05 Feb 08
Originally posted by NordlysI think this is an interesting phenomenon. Do you think that such changes are visible in others too? I once had a French friend with whom I related easily speaking in English; however, when he spoke in French, I had the feeling that his personality changed in a way I didn't recognize, and it slightly unsettled me. (Note: this was person-specific. In general, I am a confirmed Francophile). In other cases, however, I can't say I have noticed any change that seemed to be fundamental when friends have switched from one language to another. No doubt cases differ. But has one else noticed seemingly non-trivial personality changes in at least some others when they switch between different languages?
I feel and think differently when I use different languages. I wouldn't go as far as saying that my identity changes, but it goes deeper than a change of the social persona.
05 Feb 08
Originally posted by PawnokeyholeI look at it slightly differently. Speaking in another language affords the opportunity to experiment, to project oneself in another way, perhaps uncovering aspects of character censored in the 'normal' persona, but it doesn't put in anything that wasn't already there. Think of how people often behave when they get the chance to put on an avatar.
But has one else noticed seemingly non-trivial personality changes in at least some others when they switch between different languages?
You're probably the wrong person to have brought this up with.
05 Feb 08
Someone mentioned that English grammar is difficult. Well, I don't agree. I'm learning Latvian, English and German at school and English seems to be the easiest to learn, even though Latvian is my native language. If someone had to start from nothing with both English and Latvian, then English would definitely be easier.
05 Feb 08
Originally posted by kbaumenI agree, English is quite easy to learn.
Someone mentioned that English grammar is difficult. Well, I don't agree. I'm learning Latvian, English and German at school and English seems to be the easiest to learn, even though Latvian is my native language. If someone had to start from nothing with both English and Latvian, then English would definitely be easier.
05 Feb 08
Originally posted by PawnokeyholeI find it very visible in my Japanese sister-in-law, but a lot of that may be attributable to her difficulty with foreign languages (she lived in Germany for more than two decades, but her German still isn't very good). She seems a lot more lively and talkative and less serious when she's talking Japanese. I think that for myself, the differences between how I feel and think in different languages have become smaller when I became better at the languages in question. That also allows me to switch more easily between the languages. When I spent some days with my sister who lives in the US and her American husband last summer, we switched between German and English a lot (speaking mostly English when he was together with us and mostly German when he wasn't), and it didn't make all that much of a difference to me.
I think this is an interesting phenomenon. Do you think that such changes are visible in others too? I once had a French friend with whom I related easily speaking in English; however, when he spoke in French, I had the feeling that his personality changed in a way I didn't recognize, and it slightly unsettled me. (Note: this was person-specific. In gen ...[text shortened]... vial personality changes in at least some others when they switch between different languages?
However, I talked to someone who grew up trilingually (having a German mother and a Norwegian father and growing up in England) who said he had very distinct personalities in the different languages (as far as I remember, we only talked Norwegian, so I can't tell how visible these personalities are to others than himself), so it doesn't necessarily have to do with proficiency.
05 Feb 08
The post that was quoted here has been removedvalid point, though some would say that you use a different language or vocabulary. An electrician does not have the proper vocabulary to understand medical jargon, except in a rudimentary fashion. Real communication happens when both people speak the same language (ie vocabulary)