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dsc · 07-23-2008

Well, that's very interesting too..

Before I started to learn Spanish 8 or 9 mos ago (and I only knew one language before that), I sometimes asked people I know who spoke multiple languages "What language do you think in?".

Most people say "It all depends".

It didn't make much sense to me at the time, but I think I understand a little better after the past few months.

If (like a good friend of mine) you spoke nothing but Polish for the first 18 years of your life, you think in Polish when thinking back on those times. Now that he's been in Canada for the past 15 years and is fluent in English, I'm sure he thinks in English when he's thinking about his experiences here.

Still from Panamax's comment I have to conclude that since I started to learn a 2nd language at a somewhat older age, that even if I do become fluent in Spanish one day, I will probably always think in English first.

I'd be interested to hear others experiences, of course..

07-23-2008	#15 (permalink)
dsc Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 54 Rep Power: 1	Well, that's very interesting too.. Before I started to learn Spanish 8 or 9 mos ago (and I only knew one language before that), I sometimes asked people I know who spoke multiple languages "What language do you think in?". Most people say "It all depends". It didn't make much sense to me at the time, but I think I understand a little better after the past few months. If (like a good friend of mine) you spoke nothing but Polish for the first 18 years of your life, you think in Polish when thinking back on those times. Now that he's been in Canada for the past 15 years and is fluent in English, I'm sure he thinks in English when he's thinking about his experiences here. Still from Panamax's comment I have to conclude that since I started to learn a 2nd language at a somewhat older age, that even if I do become fluent in Spanish one day, I will probably always think in English first. I'd be interested to hear others experiences, of course..