When I first came to Germany, I couldn't speak any German at all. I learnt it by immersing myself in it, like music. After a while you hear notes you recognise, then melodies. Eventually you begin to understand a new perspective that is another language and to fall in love with it. Then you start dreaming in that language. Now, forty years later I think bilingually.
I have been learning Greek for some time now. It is hard because I am not with Greeks enough of the time to immerse myself. That will change in the coming years, now I am retired and can spend more time there. Greek gives us clues to how English was formed, as well as offering a more relaxed view of life, much older and wiser.
Thank you for writing this piece, it is so important for a fuller comprehension of humans and language.
Thank you for sharing this! I love how you describe language as music -- that’s a beautiful way to put it. Wishing you joy with Greek and all the new perspectives it brings.
As Lisa notes, there are so many thoughts in French that don't exist in English. My Nana used to rue that I didn't learn Italian dialect - apparently I missed out on a lot!
Living in New York I learned that the Yiddish schlepp isn't just walking - but it's the energy required to make it happen. Or Schmatta -- that raggedy thing that is cozy comfy -- but you wouldn't dare wear it in public.
Thank you so much for sharing this, Diane. It’s amazing how those Yiddish words become part of the rhythm of New York, isn’t it? And you’re right, Nanas really do know best.
I appreciated these deep insights into the importance of foreign language learning and immersive travel. There are so many thoughts and feelings in French that don't exist in English. Thanks for expressing this idea so beautifully.
So true! I was so happy to see this article. I don't always think in English, though I often do. I also think in Hungarian.
As a translator, I never translate words, not even sentences, but paragraphs. Ideas are expressed differently in different languages. And some things you can't even translate, unless you lived in or at least visited the area where the language you translate from is spoken.
As a language teacher, the first thing I always taught my students was this exact concept: when trying to learn a new language, you need to understand that different languages express things differently. I always add lessons about the country, the people, and their traditions to the language lessons. Because no language is spoken in the void. Even if you don't become fluent enough to think in another language, understanding this concept gives you an open mind when traveling or interacting with different cultures.
Thank you so much for this wonderful comment! I really appreciate the perspective you brought to the discussion and how it resonates in your work, not only as a translator but also as a teacher. The way you describe teaching your students about traditions and context is inspiring, and it makes me feel like if you had been mine, I would have thrived much more in my early language studies. Thank you again.
This is so sharp. You’re right—it’s never neutral. For me, the language we pick up in each country is less about vocabulary drills and more about context.
Even within English—living in the UK and then Ireland rewired me. In Ireland, people don’t call themselves “anxious,” they say they “have anxiety in them.” Huge distinction. Huge shift in how I think about language, and about myself.
Love this piece - really engaging. As a polyglot and someone obsessed with learning new languages / understanding language and how it shapes new ways of seeing the world, found so much to love in this article! Whenever I catch myself either thinking or dreaming in another language, it’s such a breakthrough moment always.
Thank you! This has never occurred to me and completely blown my mind. I’m very aware of world views and how many aspects, experiences and thoughts impact our own individual world view but it never occurred to me that language is definitely a factor in this, as well as the points you’ve made being why I find it so difficult to learn another language.
Language does indeed shape the way you filter the world around you. I read a study once that claimed people who spoke languages without a clearly marked future tense (e.g. Chinese) save more on average. I thought that was counter-intuitive, but it explained that it’s because they perceive the future as more immediate. Having a strong future tense puts more separation between now and later, and people who speak such languages (Spanish, English) tend to spend more now because they compartmentalize present and future time.
This opened a part of my brain that only seems to widen its aperture when traveling. I'm sure you know the reason why, even if I don't. Fascinating work. +1
When I first came to Germany, I couldn't speak any German at all. I learnt it by immersing myself in it, like music. After a while you hear notes you recognise, then melodies. Eventually you begin to understand a new perspective that is another language and to fall in love with it. Then you start dreaming in that language. Now, forty years later I think bilingually.
I have been learning Greek for some time now. It is hard because I am not with Greeks enough of the time to immerse myself. That will change in the coming years, now I am retired and can spend more time there. Greek gives us clues to how English was formed, as well as offering a more relaxed view of life, much older and wiser.
Thank you for writing this piece, it is so important for a fuller comprehension of humans and language.
Thank you for sharing this! I love how you describe language as music -- that’s a beautiful way to put it. Wishing you joy with Greek and all the new perspectives it brings.
This is wonderful!
As Lisa notes, there are so many thoughts in French that don't exist in English. My Nana used to rue that I didn't learn Italian dialect - apparently I missed out on a lot!
Living in New York I learned that the Yiddish schlepp isn't just walking - but it's the energy required to make it happen. Or Schmatta -- that raggedy thing that is cozy comfy -- but you wouldn't dare wear it in public.
Thank you so much for sharing this, Diane. It’s amazing how those Yiddish words become part of the rhythm of New York, isn’t it? And you’re right, Nanas really do know best.
I appreciated these deep insights into the importance of foreign language learning and immersive travel. There are so many thoughts and feelings in French that don't exist in English. Thanks for expressing this idea so beautifully.
Thank you, Lisa!
So true! I was so happy to see this article. I don't always think in English, though I often do. I also think in Hungarian.
As a translator, I never translate words, not even sentences, but paragraphs. Ideas are expressed differently in different languages. And some things you can't even translate, unless you lived in or at least visited the area where the language you translate from is spoken.
As a language teacher, the first thing I always taught my students was this exact concept: when trying to learn a new language, you need to understand that different languages express things differently. I always add lessons about the country, the people, and their traditions to the language lessons. Because no language is spoken in the void. Even if you don't become fluent enough to think in another language, understanding this concept gives you an open mind when traveling or interacting with different cultures.
Great article!
Thank you so much for this wonderful comment! I really appreciate the perspective you brought to the discussion and how it resonates in your work, not only as a translator but also as a teacher. The way you describe teaching your students about traditions and context is inspiring, and it makes me feel like if you had been mine, I would have thrived much more in my early language studies. Thank you again.
Such a compliment! Thank you! :)
This is so sharp. You’re right—it’s never neutral. For me, the language we pick up in each country is less about vocabulary drills and more about context.
Even within English—living in the UK and then Ireland rewired me. In Ireland, people don’t call themselves “anxious,” they say they “have anxiety in them.” Huge distinction. Huge shift in how I think about language, and about myself.
Thank you and that is a great example!!
This is fascinating! Though it rings true, I've never thought of it this way. Thank you so much for sharing. What a great read!
Thanks glad you enjoyed it and appreciate you being here!
Love this piece - really engaging. As a polyglot and someone obsessed with learning new languages / understanding language and how it shapes new ways of seeing the world, found so much to love in this article! Whenever I catch myself either thinking or dreaming in another language, it’s such a breakthrough moment always.
Thank you, Laura. I am glad it resonated with you!
Thank you! This has never occurred to me and completely blown my mind. I’m very aware of world views and how many aspects, experiences and thoughts impact our own individual world view but it never occurred to me that language is definitely a factor in this, as well as the points you’ve made being why I find it so difficult to learn another language.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, and thank you so much for this comment!
Language does indeed shape the way you filter the world around you. I read a study once that claimed people who spoke languages without a clearly marked future tense (e.g. Chinese) save more on average. I thought that was counter-intuitive, but it explained that it’s because they perceive the future as more immediate. Having a strong future tense puts more separation between now and later, and people who speak such languages (Spanish, English) tend to spend more now because they compartmentalize present and future time.
This is fascinating. I’m definitely going to look more at this. Thanks Trey!
我很喜欢麻辣烫. 😅
啊啊啊最好！
This opened a part of my brain that only seems to widen its aperture when traveling. I'm sure you know the reason why, even if I don't. Fascinating work. +1
Thank you.
This was like the language blue pill to get out of the travel matrix. Bravo Scott!
Wow that’s a great compliment, thanks Daniel!
Thanks for the insights! I grew up bilingual but have never realised that language affects how we see the world.
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for reading!
I like this topic, but not enough time now to properly respond. I’ll come back later.