Speaking in a different language, changes the way you think

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
12 responses
@cahaya1983 (11120)
• 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
@cahaya1983 (11120)
• Malaysia
30 Jul 17
@Mona_li Malay and English.
2 people like this
• Paris, France
30 Jul 17
Which languages do you speak?
3 people like this
• Paris, France
30 Jul 17
@cahaya1983 so cool! Malay! Like knowing a secret language
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69409)
• Germany
29 Jul 17
Welcome to myLot. Enjoy the site! The first step for all newbies is to read the Guidelines to learn what is allowed or not on the site. Then you can write a post introducing yourself. Tell us a bit about yourself. Furthermore, read around as much as you can, Like and Comment on other members' posts. Only then will members come to your site and do the same. This is called interaction. Don't expect too much money-wise. If you reach $5 a month (the payout limit), you can call yourself lucky. ---- I can also dream in different languages. I think it depends what I do before falling asleep. When I read an English book, I may dream in English. When I read a German book, I may dream in German. When I've talked Italian for a longer time, it may be Italian.
This is where you will find out what kinds of behavior are accepted and unaccepted on myLot. When in doubt, remember the Golden Rule!
4 people like this
• Philippines
30 Jul 17
can you write in italian, too?
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (459212)
• Switzerland
30 Jul 17
@hereandthere I surely can write in Italian, I speak a little Portuguese, but I cannot write Portuguese.
4 people like this
@MALUSE (69409)
• Germany
30 Jul 17
@hereandthere Not really. My husband would have to correct it.
3 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.
3 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
31 Jul 17
@Mona_li Yes, but as Occitan is spoken by only 300 000 people today, and not in the area where I am living, it is not very useful. Besides, I never learned how to write it.
2 people like this
• Paris, France
30 Jul 17
Cool! Are you bilingual?
2 people like this
• Paris, France
31 Jul 17
@topffer still like a secret language...
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (459212)
• 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
• Paris, France
30 Jul 17
Impressive! Thats awsome
2 people like this
@Hannihar (129540)
• 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
• Paris, France
30 Jul 17
Big like for you!!! Difficult to start a new life at 36... Are you fluent in hebrew? For your question- yes. Im israeli. born and lived in israel till 27. All of my family lives there and i visit often.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129540)
• 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
• Paris, France
31 Jul 17
@Hannihar . Thats intetesting. My husband dont speak hebrew. Hes french. I only have my friends to talk to in hebrew...
1 person likes this
30 Jul 17
Wow! You're amazing! You speak Hebrew, too! Perhaps you can teach languages online? Good job.
3 people like this
30 Jul 17
@Mona_li I don't know. Try language studies online that offer tutorials?
2 people like this
• Paris, France
30 Jul 17
Actually i do teach hebrew and french but not online. It sounds interesting. Any recomendations?
4 people like this
• 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
• Paris, France
30 Jul 17
It is so important! You are so lucky to know both languages. If you come from a spanish speaking culture you should charish that.
1 person likes this
@marlina (154165)
• Canada
30 Jul 17
Good for you! I speak French and English and know a bit of Italian and Spanish.
2 people like this
• Paris, France
30 Jul 17
Impressive. Im jalouse
@thelme55 (76481)
• 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
@tzwrites (4835)
• Romania
30 Jul 17
True, speaking more than one language really changes you.
2 people like this
• Paris, France
30 Jul 17
Good to know im not alone...
@peachpurple (13884)
• 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
• Paris, France
31 Jul 17
French you mean?
@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
@JeeyanDee (2692)
1 Aug 17
@Mona_li Philippines
1 person likes this
• Paris, France
2 Aug 17
@JeeyanDee my next destination!
1 person likes this
• Paris, France
1 Aug 17
Cool, i try to imagine that! Where are you from?
1 person likes this