Speaking in a different language, changes the way you think
By Mona_li
@Mona_li (60)
Paris, France
July 29, 2017 3:45pm CST
I moved to France when i was 27. Its not very easy to change your whole lifestyle and habits as an adult and especiely, doing it while learning a new language..not just any language, but a really difficult one- french!
7 years later, i speak fluent french which makes me fluent in 3 languages (hebrew,english and french). I can now definatly say that speaking a certain language changes the way you look at the world, the way you think and the way you react.
The wired thing, I can find myself thinking and even dreaming in one of the 3 languages i speak and it makes me wonder how and why my subconcsious chose one language over the other for this specific dream/thought.
I find it psychologocally fascinating as languages are created and modified by culture.
Can anyone testify having the same experience?
11 people like this
11 responses
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
30 Jul 17
I can only speak two languages fluently now but yes, I believe so. I think it's the fact that language is strongly related to culture. I can see the differences in mentality too when I read written materials in the different languages.
4 people like this
@Mona_li (60)
• Paris, France
30 Jul 17
@cahaya1983 so cool! Malay! Like knowing a secret language
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472430)
• Switzerland
30 Jul 17
Hello, I had a similar experience, with my husband, we moved from Italy to Monte-Carlo when I was 26. I already spoke a little French because I had studied it in school. We lived 30 years in the south of France, this made French my second language after Italian. I also speak English, Spanish and a bit of German.
4 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
30 Jul 17
Welcome ! Pleased to see somebody else living in France on myLot
It is rare when I dream in anything else than French, except perhaps in Occitan times to times (it was the native language of my mother). I learned Spanish and English at school, but I need to stay in a Spanish or English speaking country during several weeks to start to think in these languages.
It is rare when I dream in anything else than French, except perhaps in Occitan times to times (it was the native language of my mother). I learned Spanish and English at school, but I need to stay in a Spanish or English speaking country during several weeks to start to think in these languages.3 people like this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32748)
• Calgary, Alberta
30 Jul 17
I always try to think in Spanish so I will never forget it. I am in a place where everyone speaks English. I do not want to forget my heritage.
2 people like this
@Hannihar (130213)
• Israel
30 Jul 17
So, were you born in Israel and moved to France or what? I live here in Israel and have been living here a little over 30 years now. I made aliya in November 1086 from the US. I came to live in Israel at the age of 36 and starting life all over again was scary, but, since I was independent and a survivor and not a Holocaust survivor but another kind I was able to be here. I came by myself and as the years when by I learned a lot and grew into my own self and that is what changed me.
2 people like this
@Hannihar (130213)
• Israel
31 Jul 17
@Mona_li
it is close. Is it hard for you to go visit and then leave? I am not fluent, but, I do speak it. I believe you may like what I am going to say here. Israelis tell us immigrants we have to lean Hebrew here because it is the language of the country but when we do speak to them they like to try out there English on us. I have learned you have to speak up and so I tell you you tell us to learn Hebrew and how are we going to do that if you speak to us in English? They turn back to Hebrew. I am determined to speak to them in Hebrew and usually since I continue they usually turn back to Hebrew or if they may start out in Hebrew and then go to English I will tell them that I speak Hebrew too. Does your husband speak Hebrew too? Do you speak Hebrew a lot in France. Is your husband from France?
2 people like this
@everwonderwhy (7372)
•
30 Jul 17
Wow! You're amazing! You speak Hebrew, too! Perhaps you can teach languages online? Good job.
3 people like this
@everwonderwhy (7372)
•
30 Jul 17
@Mona_li I don't know. Try language studies online that offer tutorials?
2 people like this
@thelme55 (77385)
• Germany
31 Jul 17
I can relate to what you have said. I moved to Germany when I was 20 years old and learned German language. It was difficult of all the changes that I have been through but I have made it. It is indeed weird dreaming in a certain language while sleeping.
1 person likes this
@peachpurple (13961)
• Malaysia
31 Jul 17
It is amazing that you could speak 3 different languages and to embrace the culture is another topic. Some people can speak but find it difficult to adapt to the culture. Can you adapt to Italian culture?
1 person likes this
@JeeyanDee (2692)
•
1 Aug 17
I know exactly what you mean. In my country we have a lot of dialects and different intonations when speaking. Even with just those things, I have actually realized a lot of things. Plus, I also find myself sometimes speaking and mixing different intonations added with a few English words.
1 person likes this
