Speaking English Changes Your Personality
Summary
TLDRThe video script discusses the transformative effect of language learning on an individual's identity and behavior. It highlights that when learning a new language, people often adopt different speaking styles and cultural nuances, which can initially feel unnatural. The speaker emphasizes the importance of immersion in both language and culture to achieve fluency. They also share personal experiences of feeling more comfortable expressing certain emotions in English than in their native Ukrainian due to cultural differences. The script touches on the challenges of being in a linguistic and cultural 'in-between' stage, where one may feel a sense of belonging to neither their native nor their new culture. It concludes by encouraging viewers to embrace the process of language learning and the new aspects of their identity that come with it, as language and culture are deeply interconnected.
Takeaways
- 🗣️ When learning a new language, people often change their voice and behavior, which can be a natural part of the language acquisition process.
- 🌐 Immersion in both the language and culture is crucial for fluency, and initially may feel forced or unnatural.
- 🔉 Language learners may struggle to express humor and intelligence in a foreign language due to limited vocabulary and cultural knowledge.
- 🎭 Cultural nuances are vital for true fluency; understanding customs, history, and social norms deepens language proficiency.
- 📚 Language learning involves more than grammar; it includes the adoption of mannerisms, intonation, and even body language associated with the language.
- 🎓 As proficiency in a language grows, one's personality and way of thinking can adapt to reflect the new cultural identity.
- 💬 Specific words and expressions for emotions may not translate directly between languages, affecting how individuals express themselves.
- 🤔 There can be a transitional phase where one feels caught between cultures, leading to a temporary lack of fluency in both languages.
- 🤝 Different languages have distinct ways of addressing people, which can influence social interactions and relationship-building.
- 👪 Raising children bilingually can lead to a natural adoption of language-based expressions of affection.
- 🌱 Embracing the process of language learning and accepting the changes it brings is essential for achieving fluency and personal growth.
Q & A
Why do people's voices and behavior sometimes change when they speak another language?
-This change can be attributed to the process of language immersion and cultural adaptation. When learning a new language, individuals often adopt the speaking style, intonation, and even body language associated with that language's culture, which can make them sound and act differently.
Why might someone feel like they are pretending when they start learning a new language?
-At the beginning stages of language learning, everything can feel weird and fake because the learner is trying to adapt to a new way of speaking and expressing themselves. This includes working on their accent, which can initially feel like they are faking it until they become more comfortable and natural with the new language.
How does the process of learning a new language affect one's ability to be humorous or express intelligence?
-As a learner is still acquiring vocabulary, grammar, and cultural knowledge, they may find it challenging to be as funny or to show their intelligence as they would in their native language. Jokes and humorous anecdotes often rely on cultural references and natural, casual phrases that may not translate well or may require a deeper understanding of the language to convey effectively.
What is the relationship between language fluency and cultural understanding?
-Fluency in a language extends beyond grammar and pronunciation to include a deep understanding and appreciation of the associated culture. This involves getting to know the customs, history, idiomatic expressions, humor, and daily life of the people who speak the language natively.
How does learning a new language influence one's social interactions and relationships?
-Learning a new language involves learning different styles of addressing people, which can influence how respect is shown and relationships are formed. Over time, learners may acquire the manner of speaking, intonation, tone, and even body movements associated with the language, which can help them better understand social rules and fit in with native speakers.
Why might someone feel more comfortable expressing certain emotions in a second language compared to their native language?
-The comfort level in expressing emotions can be influenced by cultural norms. For instance, if a person's native culture is more reserved in expressing affection, they might find it more natural to express such emotions in a second language that is associated with a culture that is more open and affectionate.
What challenges might someone face when they are in the process of becoming bilingual?
-Bilingual individuals may experience a temporary feeling of not fully belonging to either their native or the new culture. They might also find themselves forgetting words in their native language and wanting to use words from their second language instead. This can lead to a feeling of being 'in the middle,' with a mix of both languages in their head.
Why is it easier for some people to express frustration or anger in their native language?
-Expressing strong emotions like frustration or anger often comes more naturally in one's native language because it is the language in which they have the deepest emotional connections and the most extensive vocabulary to describe their feelings.
How can the process of learning a new language lead to changes in a person's identity?
-As learners immerse themselves in a new language and culture, they may adopt new ways of thinking, social norms, and even mannerisms. Over time, these changes can become a natural and genuine part of their identity, leading to a new side of themselves that feels comfortable and authentic.
What advice does the speaker give to those who are learning a new language and facing criticism for their efforts?
-The speaker advises learners to trust the process, immerse themselves fully, and not to mind what others think or say about them. They should embrace their new identity, welcome the new side of themselves with open arms, and enjoy the journey of language learning.
How does the speaker describe the experience of becoming fluent in a second language?
-The speaker describes it as a process that involves not just learning vocabulary and grammar but also absorbing the cultural nuances, values, and ways of thinking associated with the language. It's a journey that can significantly shape one's personality and worldview.
What is the significance of being able to use expressions that sound native and natural in a second language?
-Using native and natural expressions in a second language is a sign of fluency and comfort with the language. It allows the speaker to engage more authentically in conversations, joke around, and express themselves without the mental translation process, making the communication more effortless and enjoyable.
Outlines
🗣️ Language Immersion and Cultural Adaptation
The speaker discusses how people's voices and behaviors can change when speaking a different language. They mention their own experience and the criticism they've received for 'pretending' to be American. The paragraph emphasizes that to become fluent, one must immerse themselves in the language and culture, initially pretending to fit in until it feels natural. It also touches on the challenges of expressing humor and intelligence in a foreign language due to limited vocabulary and cultural knowledge. The speaker stresses the importance of understanding the culture associated with a language to achieve fluency, which includes customs, history, idiomatic expressions, humor, and daily life. They highlight that language learning involves adopting the manner of speaking, intonation, tone, and even body movements of the culture, which can lead to a change in one's personality and the way they present themselves.
💬 Language and Emotional Expression
The speaker shares their personal experience of feeling more free to express affection in English than in their native Ukrainian language. They attribute this to cultural norms, where their native country's people are more reserved. The speaker also talks about the ease of expressing frustration or fighting in one's native language, and the awkward phase of feeling caught between two cultures, especially in terms of vocabulary. They mention instances where they can discuss certain topics more knowledgeably in one language over the other, which is a natural part of being bilingual. The speaker encourages embracing the process of language learning, not being concerned with others' opinions, and enjoying the journey of acquiring a new language and cultural identity. They conclude by stating that language learning involves absorbing cultural nuances, values, and ways of thinking, which can significantly shape one's personality and worldview.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Accent
💡Cultural Immersion
💡Fluency
💡Language Acquisition
💡Cultural Norms
💡Bilingualism
💡Idiomatic Expressions
💡Social Rules
💡Emotional Expression
💡Language Identity
💡Cultural Values
Highlights
People often sound and act differently when speaking a different language
To become fluent, you need to immerse yourself in the language and culture
At first, everything feels weird and fake when speaking a new language
You need to persist until speaking with an accent feels natural
You can't express yourself as freely in a foreign language due to limited vocabulary, grammar and cultural knowledge
Jokes often don't sound funny when translated into a second language
Fluency in a language involves a deep understanding and appreciation of the associated culture
Learning a language helps you understand and care more about the people who speak it
Different languages have different ways of addressing people and showing respect
Over time, you may adopt the mannerisms, intonation and tone associated with a language
Your personality may change as you immerse yourself in a new language and culture
Acquiring a language takes time and the changes become a natural part of you
Some languages have specific words and expressions for emotions that don't directly translate
It's easier to express certain emotions and fight/scold someone in your native language
There's a stage where you feel like you don't fully belong to either your native or new culture
You may feel more knowledgeable about certain topics in one language over the other
Embrace the new identity and enjoy the process of becoming fluent in a language
Language and culture are deeply intertwined - learning a language also means absorbing the cultural nuances, values and ways of thinking
Transcripts
I'm sure you've noticed that people
sound different meaning their voice
changes and sometimes they even act
differently when they speak another
language maybe you've noticed this in
yourself just like I have in me I've
also received a lot of comments saying
that I'm pretending to be an
American which in a way is true though
those comments were intended to hurt my
feelings and make fun of me they aren't
entirely wrong however I'm not doing
this in intentionally it's actually a
very interesting phenomenon so let's
talk about it if you want to immerse
yourself completely in the language and
become fluent this is kind of what you
need to do at first you also need to
immerse yourself in the culture and you
need to pretend at first at the
beginning Everything feels weird and
fake you don't feel like yourself
speaking another language doesn't feel
comfortable especially when you start
working on your accent that's when it
first feels like you're totally faking
it and it's not you and that's when you
especially need to persist until you
feel natural speaking with that accent
you can't be as funny as you are in your
native language nor can you show how
intelligent you truly are in your
foreign language because obviously
you're still learning you lack
vocabulary grammar and cultural
knowledge to express yourself as freely
as you would in your native language
it's especially noticeable with jokes
you know when you have a cool joke but
it just doesn't sound funny in your
second language when you translate it or
even when you want to tell something
funny that happened to you it just
doesn't sound funny well it's because
first you translate when you need to
interpret and second it's because you're
lacking those casual natural phrases
that natives use that can turn your
story into a funny or dramatic one not
to mention the undeveloped listening and
speaking skills needed to be part of a
conversation with group of native
speakers in feel like you fit in being
fluent in a language isn't just about
being able to speak correctly it's also
about being familiar with the culture of
the language and the country in question
fluency in a language extends far beyond
just mastering grammar and pronunciation
it also involves a deep understanding
and appreciation of the culture
associated with that language this means
getting to know the Customs history
idiomatic Expressions humor and even the
daily life of the people who speak it
natively when you learn a language you
also learn about the culture that comes
with it like their way of life and what
they believe in this helps you
understand and care more about the
people who speak it it makes you more
open to different ways of living you
start to see the world in many ways
which can make you better at getting
along with others different languages
have different ways of talking to people
for example in some languages there are
casual and formal ways to address
someone which can influence how they
show respect and form relationships
learning these different styles can help
you better understand social rules and
settle hints over time as you progress
in your learning you even acquire the
manner of speaking intonation tone and
even the body movements associated with
language you're learning languages like
Korean or Japanese have intonations and
tones that differ significantly from
others languages if you want to speak
them and sound more or less natural you
need to acquire those tones their
cultural and social norms are also
different and may seem unusual to other
cultures for example they bow to show
respect and if you live in one of those
countries or even visit you'll find
yourself following those norms and if
you are in contact with that culture for
long enough you'll naturally adopt it
and your personality will change and to
some people it might look like you're
pretending the way I sound and position
myself in my native language diff
significantly from how I do so in
English for sure I even think in English
differently but it doesn't happen
overnight acquiring a language takes
time so over time you might not even
notice these changes they become natural
to you a real and genuine part of you
and it stops being pretending anymore
it's just who you are now over time you
become so comfortable with this new side
of yourself that you can finally be you
again maybe some of you know this
feeling when you've acquired enough
knowledge and practice that you can
finally relax in your second language
you can joke around for instance because
you're finally using Expressions that
sound native and natural rather than
translating jokes in your head and this
leads me to the next very important
Point some languages have specific words
and expressions for expressing feelings
and emotions that don't directly trans
at into other languages I noticed quite
some time ago that I express my emotions
differently in English Tech I even feel
them differently I honestly feel more
free expressing myself in English to me
words of affection like I love you feel
a lot more natural in English than when
I say them in Ukrainian I've thought
about this and realize that it's because
of cultural norms in my native country
and in that culture people are more
reserved and keep to themselves they
don't express affection all that often
or that easily whereas here in the US
people are more open more Ben elevant
and even more affectionate and that's
why when I took on this language culture
and this new identity it became natural
for me to be more affectionate in this
language I started to speak English with
my son when he was 8 months old so
expressing my love for him in English
feels very natural to me as opposed to
in Ukrainian and now it has even become
more comfortable for me to express my
feelings towards my husband in English
as well another very interesting thing
that I know a lot of people will agree
with is that it is so much easier to
fight scold someone or Express
frustration in your native language it's
almost comical how often you can see
someone speaking perfect English but
then when something happens they
suddenly start cussing and yelling in
another language well that's because it
just feels more natural to those people
there's also this weird stage where
you're kind of in the middle not here
nor there it's like you don't belong to
your culture anymore but you also don't
entirely belong to this new one yet
especially with your vocabulary there
comes a point when you feel like you're
lacking in both languages because there
are words that you forget in your native
language and you want to use English
ones in their place and there are words
that you still don't know in English and
it's like a whole mess in your head I
for instance and maybe you've noticed
this in yourself can talk about some
things in English better than I can in
Ukrainian and vice versa there are just
no words that can suit what I want to
say in one language or the other I am
more knowledgeable about certain topics
in one language than in the other and
that's absolutely okay it doesn't mean
that you're not fluent in a language it
just means that you're bilingual and
some things feel weird to talk about in
one language or the other because it's
culture they might be considered
inappropriate to discuss and also
because I learned about some things only
in English naturally I wouldn't talk
about them as expressively and
confidently in Ukrainian all this is a
process and you need to trust the
process and completely immerse yourself
in it if you want to achieve true
fluency don't mind what others think or
say about you Embrace that new identity
welcome this new side of you with open
arms and take pleasure in it enjoy it
and mind you it doesn't mean that you
need to give up your peculiarities not
at all they are what makes you you
that's What Makes You unique some people
told me that I will never be a true
American and I'm like who told you that
this is my goal so what I can be
partially American I can be totally
American who the heck cares I am me and
I love where I am right now in a year
this too will change so just enjoy where
you are at this current moment when you
start using a language every day it kind
of becomes part of who you are part of
your identity you might even feel like
you're part of a whole new group of
people all you need to take away from
this video is that the language you
speak can significantly shape your
personality and worldview largely
because language and culture are deeply
intertwined when you learn a language
you're not just memorizing vocabulary
and grammar rules you're also absorbing
the cultural nuances values and ways of
thinking associated with that language
so relax and enjoy the ride well guys I
hope this video was insightful for you
now I would really love to hear your
thoughts on this topic so please share
your stance with us in the comments and
we all can have a discussion about it
and I'll see you in the next one bye
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