Posted on Nov 16, 2015
Does the ability to speak a foreign language change how you see the world?
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Scientists have been studying how linguistic differences can affect how we view events. It's an interesting study showing how emphasis used in language can affect how one puts emphasis on how he or she sees an event. Do you focus on any particular part of the event? The cause, the action, the after effect?
It makes sense to me that this would be the case and may affect why different countries give different responses to an event or why some link events together and others don't.
Would it be more to our advantage in the political arena, if we were more like the Swiss? The Swiss are amazing in their ability to traverse different languages. Swiss citizens speak four different languages French, German, Italian, and Romansh and they have these same four languages as their national language. Don't worry they're also excellent at English. :-)
http://news.sciencemag.org/brain-behavior/2015/03/speaking-second-language-may-change-how-you-see-world
It makes sense to me that this would be the case and may affect why different countries give different responses to an event or why some link events together and others don't.
Would it be more to our advantage in the political arena, if we were more like the Swiss? The Swiss are amazing in their ability to traverse different languages. Swiss citizens speak four different languages French, German, Italian, and Romansh and they have these same four languages as their national language. Don't worry they're also excellent at English. :-)
http://news.sciencemag.org/brain-behavior/2015/03/speaking-second-language-may-change-how-you-see-world
Foreign Language
Policy
Politics
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 21
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Yes. It gives you the ability to talk unfiltered with people. The media gives you no raw intel the way they slant it. You actually have to travel, speak with locals, and find out what's going on yourself.
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It certainly does not hinder. I am studying German by immersion and looking up verbs and their conjugations...
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Well, it surely does make you able to interpret nuances that get lost in translation many times. English is not optimal when it comes to give layers of information.
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I'm able to speak English, Thai, Arabic, Urdu, and some Japanese. I would say the ability to speak Japanese has helped me through my travels. My ability to speak Thai has helped me communicate with my family from Thailand. Arabic and Urdu would have helped me had I chose to stay in.
I think my ability to speak a different language hasn't changed how I view the world. The fact that I am born of immigrant parents however does. As I have traveled a lot in my younger years, I was able to see the world from a different perspective and allows me to formulate my own views of the world.
I think my ability to speak a different language hasn't changed how I view the world. The fact that I am born of immigrant parents however does. As I have traveled a lot in my younger years, I was able to see the world from a different perspective and allows me to formulate my own views of the world.
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SrA Edward Vong Excellent. I think Urdu would be an excellent language to have. I understand from native speakers it is a difficult language. Knowing Arabic helps a lot....
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The ability to understand and hear other points of view would enlarge a person's outlook. Military members get that change of perspective by the constant travel serving in other countries. I can see it.
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I guess it depends on the language. I used to speak passable Klingon when I was in college. loQ tlhIngan laH pejatlh!
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When I was stationed in Germany, I spoke ok German. But haven't had a need for the last 20 years.
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My second language (French) is all but forgotten and I would say as very little remaining influence on much of anything in my life. My third (Japanese), fourth (Korean) and fifth (Spanish) languages, however, are a very big part of not only my daily life, but my worldview, politics and how I look at issues.
The more I study, travel and generally experience other cultures, of which language is a very large part, the more tolerant, generous, patient and understanding I think I become.
I really do feel sorry for anyone who has never had the experience of living in a culture and language different from their own, and living on an American base overseas and learning a few words, while a good start, does not really qualify.
The more I study, travel and generally experience other cultures, of which language is a very large part, the more tolerant, generous, patient and understanding I think I become.
I really do feel sorry for anyone who has never had the experience of living in a culture and language different from their own, and living on an American base overseas and learning a few words, while a good start, does not really qualify.
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I believe it does. Living in Denmark, I was told I could get along just fine with English, but I chose to learn Danish, and I feel people accept me better. As far as seeing the world differently, no, I feel living OCONUS and getting news from other sources than U.S. main stream media is a big plus. See the different nation's views of how America does things is very enlightening.
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