It could be French, Spanish, Chinese, German, Hindi, Paakantyi. Name any kind of language and if you try to learn it, chances are you'll start thinking in it. What is this odd trick of mental linguistics? There is definitely a psychology behind this change in thought pattern, but it doesn't appear to have an exact term.
Cognitive Psychology & The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
Thinking in another language and the study thereof falls within the psychological category of cognitive research. In this branch of psychology is a highly debated theory known as the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. The idea is that the languages we speak actually make us think differently.
What do you think about that? If we think differently, wouldn't that mean we also act differently? There's a very interesting article about all this by Aneta Pavlenko in Psychology Today. The article points out that the debate about the Sapir-Whorf theory actually warped its definition.
The original theory proposes that knowing more than one language is a useful tool, but it makes the distinction that language is not our only form of thinking. That makes sense to me. I know I think visually at times and I can also remember the way something smells. The article in Psychology Today goes on to discuss whether thinking in a different language can make us do things differently, or even make us do things at all.
Walking Out Of Spanish Class, I'd Greet My English Friends In Spanish
Did Spanish really make me do something different, or did I just struggle to change the mental processes? Hmmmm. Makes you wonder.
And in case anyone is also wondering, the friends I greeted in Spanish used to look at me like I had lost my mind. Except for the ones coming out of a different Spanish classroom. Then we'd be right on key.
It's All Happening Again So Let's Stretch The Learning Curve
The whole reason I thought of writing about this subject is the reoccurrence of it in my life right now. I've been lending a hand to an almost exclusive Spanish speaking community. Fooled you with the French title, didn't I?
The thing is for us there's a kind of opposite effect. We get very comfortable communicating with each other, then we accidentally slip back into our native tongue. I should be honest and say the Hispanic project leaders do. My Spanish isn't good enough to slip back into English anyway. It is getting better though and starting to come back to me.
Is Steemit Helping To Break Down Babylon?
But wouldn't you say that by bringing people who represent and speak languages from around the world, that Steemit is helping to tear down Babylon? You know that famous tower where our greed caused the split into thousands of languages. People could no longer communicate or relate to one another.
Did you know that Steemit has its own Curation Team?
That's right we do! Have you been to a post in another language and noticed the toggle option that appears? You may not have because we only have English, Spanish, Russian, French, and Italian so far.
Interested in learning more about this service? You can email [email protected] or visit the post by @steemitblog to get the whole scoop.
Do You Speak A Second Language Well & Want To Join A Great Project? Get In Touch With Milkbox On Their Discord Channel -> https://discord.gg/4yyRCxB
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Research in language-switching has found that you can switch language when that language is your dominant one. I have seen many people, especially from Asian countries like India that they switch to English, while they English is not fluent; thus, that is 'intentional' switching. Automatic switching is one where you don't even realize that you switched language. It happens when you know well the language you are switching to.
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Thanks for making that distinction. I was also reading that can happen with simpler terms like, hello. Hola. It doesn't take much mental effort but on a longer sentence, us students of language need to focus some brain power on the translation. :)
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It doesn't have to be your dominant one or perhaps I fall outside the definition? When trying to speak Spanish I often revert to Mandarin... except my native language is English. I catch it by the time I hit the end of the sentence, so maybe it doesn't count.
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Thanks for the brief intro and reference to the Sapir-Whorf theory. I need to research more about it.
I do, however, realised that although I communicate in English most of the time, I still "count" mentally in Mandarin, which I studied for for 12 years. I used to think more in Mandarin too, but over time I realised it slowed my English communication and since then, had spent more time with the latter.
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Hey @maverickfoo, thanks for stopping by and reading. We could both do a lot more research on the topic for sure. There are so many different facets of language; from learning our native tongue as a child, to body language. Pretty deep area of study. But one of many within the field of psychology. Crazy huh?
I like hearing about how you count in Mandarin. That's really cool. :)
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Interesting thoughts and insights inalittlewhile. I'm off travelling next year and am just about to get going on preparation by using Rosetta stone for a while before hopefully attending some classes in Spanish. I can't wait to experience these effects of thinking in another language and see how learning a new language effects my day to day memory etc. I have always been the one sat there listening and not understanding in the past. The UK are so lax in there foreign language options in school and I have been a single language person all my life. Looking forward to changing that and your article has inspired me, thank you for sharing :-)
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Hey @raj808. Sounds like you'll be heading out on quite the adventure! Yea my Spanish teacher in High School was tough. He really made us work hard for our grade. That really helped me but I still never did become fluent. It also fades from memory I've found, but comes back when you start "thinking in another language" again. :) Best of times to you.
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Thanks for sharing! That's super interesting. I grew up bilingual (German, English) so when I use or hear one language for a while I automatically find myself thinking in that language. But recently I also thought in Spanish for a sec! So weird!
One thing I've also heard is that you have a bit of a different personality in every language you speak. I actually think that's true. I know I'm still the same person but every language has a different kind of attitude to it. Like when I use a Californian accent in English I'm a lot more chill than with German. But it could also be that after using both languages a lot your language personalities mix..? :)
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Hi @tripswithtam. Thanks for sharing that. I wasn't at all sure where this post was going to go when I started it. I'm so glad I followed through and did it cause I love hearing your perspective. :)
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interesting to class the Spanish and English language my friend good job have a great day
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Thanks for stopping by my blog @angeltirado. See you over on Milkbox. :)
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Side track - Thank you so much the the huge surprise! I am totally speechless and you made my day! I didn't even focus on the challenge but more on bringing your spirit up after that catastrophe.
I love the fact how the article progresses from language to the introduction and promotion of the Steemit curation team and @steemitblog. Language is such an interesting topic to explore and I did one on coffee and language. I am unsure about Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, when I speak the other language I tend to react according the people/culture who speak that language. If I speak any of the chinese dialect I would think like a Chinese or even shake my head when ordering food in Tamil and Bahasa Malaysia at Indian restaurant.
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You are most welcome for the gift @zestforlife. I didn't know I made your day. Now that I do, my day just got better. :)
I love how that works!
So the question I guess is, does the language make you think different or the culture? They aren't inseparable I don't think. You'll see completely different cultures that all speak English. Or what if you went to a country and didn't speak the language at all? I bet most people would still try to learn the customs, respect, and ahere to them. It is a huge topic as far as studying it goes. So many questions. :)
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I think culture play a little part too... I remember when I was lost in France and I don't speak the language but prior to the visit, I try to learn a few words for survival. It was also made known to me that the French people would not assist you if you don't speak a word of their language.
It was almost midnight that time, all I wanted to do was to find the AirBnB place that I booked. They were less people on the street then I just braved myself to some of the shop houses and try to ask for direction (its not Paris just a small city in the south). Most of them turned me down as they don't even know a word of English but the did show me the direction as I was trying my best to speak their language but via direct translation from English and a mix of English and Malay (why Malay? because someone told me they hate English) word in the sentence too. I guess to them what I'm asking was confusing (lol) with a bit of luck and some of their help I manage to find my way. I don't know how relevant this story to your question but knowing that the French local culture to require a tourist to speak a little of their language.
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Haha. I don't know how this relates to my question either but I'm sure glad you told me that story. That sounds like a bit of a scary situation. Glad you were able to find help and get where you needed to go. :)
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To the question in your title, my Magic 8-Ball says:
Hi! I'm a bot, and this answer was posted automatically. Check this post out for more information.
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Great article! When learning a new language the point when I know I really "got it down" is when I catch myself thinking in that language :)
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