Speaking English Changes Your Personality

Summary

The 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

00:00

🗣️ 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.

05:03

💬 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.

Keywords

💡Accent

An accent refers to the distinct pronunciation or way of speaking characteristic of a particular country, region, or social group. In the video, the speaker discusses the challenge of adopting a new accent when learning a language, which initially feels unnatural but is essential for achieving fluency.

💡Cultural Immersion

Cultural immersion is the process of becoming deeply involved in a different culture by experiencing its customs, language, and traditions. The video emphasizes the importance of cultural immersion for language learners to become fluent, as it helps them understand and adopt the nuances of the new language's culture.

💡Fluency

Fluency in a language involves not only the ability to speak correctly but also a deep understanding of the culture associated with that language. The video discusses how fluency is achieved through a combination of language proficiency and cultural familiarity, allowing one to express themselves naturally and comfortably.

💡Language Acquisition

Language acquisition is the process of learning a new language. The speaker in the video shares personal experiences and insights on how language acquisition can lead to changes in one's behavior, thought patterns, and even emotional expression, highlighting the deep connection between language and identity.

💡Cultural Norms

Cultural norms are the unwritten rules and expectations that dictate behavior in a society. The video explores how adopting the cultural norms of a language's native speakers can influence one's mannerisms, expressions of affection, and social interactions, ultimately shaping one's personality.

💡Bilingualism

Bilingualism is the ability to speak two languages fluently. The video discusses the phenomenon of feeling a sense of belonging to both one's native culture and the culture of the second language, which can lead to a unique blend of identities and ways of expressing oneself.

💡Idiomatic Expressions

Idiomatic expressions are phrases whose meaning cannot be understood from the individual words but must be learned as a whole. The video points out that idiomatic expressions are an important part of achieving fluency, as they contribute to the natural and casual way of speaking in a language.

💡Social Rules

Social rules are the guidelines that dictate how people interact and communicate within a society. The video explains that learning the social rules associated with a new language can help a learner fit in and communicate more effectively with native speakers.

💡Emotional Expression

Emotional expression refers to the way individuals convey their feelings and emotions. The speaker in the video notes that the language one uses can influence how they feel and express emotions, with certain languages providing more natural or comfortable ways to convey affection or frustration.

💡Language Identity

Language identity is the sense of self that is tied to one's linguistic abilities and the cultures associated with the languages one speaks. The video discusses how adopting a new language can lead to a new identity, which can be both exciting and challenging as it may cause one to feel a shift in their sense of self.

💡Cultural Values

Cultural values are the beliefs and attitudes that are important in a particular culture. The video emphasizes that when learning a new language, one also absorbs the cultural values, which can lead to a broader worldview and greater appreciation for different ways of life.

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