Comments on: Do Bilingual People Act Differently Depending on the Language They Use?

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By: Ligia

Ligia — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 05:07:33 +0000

my husband talks 10 different languages. I noticed that his body language changes depending of which language he is talking. He is very rigid when he talks Chinese, but he is really relax when he talks Portuguese or Russian.

In my case, I know that I am very polite an sweet talking in English, I do not make jokes, or laugh to often while is kind of the opposite in Spanish. I am not funny in English!!!!!!!!!

By: Zara Chiron

Zara Chiron — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 10:28:33 +0000

I adored this article and I this a topic that I won’t ever stop exploring. I think most of the previous comments all raised valid points. There are many factors at play – association, culture, energy…I guess perhaps even the time in your life that you learned the language and how you learned it. I have been told that when I speak English that my voice is deeper and when I speak French it is higher pitched. I have not been speaking Spanish for very long but it seems that my tone is more coy and cutesy. I wonder about it all. I find it all so interesting. I have not had the occasion to speak in French and Spanish in front of my family members – but I am so curious to see what they have to say about the way I sound and express myself in these languages

By: Gwen

Gwen — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 12:44:37 +0000

Indeed I’ve been told also (and I notice) that I sound different when speaking French, English or Spanish, which I think is normal as all languages have different intonations but also different way of expressing things and seeing the world (culture, ideas)… One major thing I notice for example is that an English person who is angry/upset will sound more frightening/severe than a French-speaking (Belgian in my case) or Spanish person (of course, this is just a general observation, which will depend on the person too). I also express things differently depending on the language I use.

By: Caroline

Caroline — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 07:43:11 +0000

Hi, I definitely feel different when I speak French as opposed to English, which is my native language. I feel more confident and am more forthright – more “French” perhaps. My son doesn’t seem to notice the difference/be upset by it though. I do speak to him in French occasionally, when I need someone French-speaking like his dad or half-brother to understand too.

By: Patricia

Patricia — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 17:02:52 +0000

Hi. Recent research has told us that bilingual babies and toddlers can not only ‘code-switch’ the words of a language but they can also change the physical forms of the mouth and throat which produce correct pronunciation, so why not intonation too?
Anecdotally, only last week a friend heard me speak in both languages and concluded I spoke in a higher key than in English. “Higher as in more frantic?” I asked. “No” she said “higher but lighter”.

By: ALU

ALU — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:01:46 +0000

I think it makes sense. I had never been told anything like that but I can see how I would sound different. I know a lot more words of endearment in Spanish that come naturally to me. And I use a lot of them with my kids and when speaking in Spanish in general. Sometimes when I am addressing my monolingual (English) niece and nephews I feel fake because I am not used to speaking lovingly to small children in English. It just doesn’t come natural. So I think I would definitely sound “nicer” in Spanish.

I can’t consciously speak to my kids in English. I feel fake. But I have done it without even noticing it if I was already speaking English with someone else. But my son has never commented on it. Maybe he doesn’t notice it either?

Something I do know though, is that I do not like the sound of my voice in English. I have heard voice mail messages I have left and it doesn’t sound like me!! haha In my case, I do thing is a confidence issue.

By: Joe Mitchell

Joe Mitchell — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:50:20 +0000

Here in Ireland even though our native language (Irish) has all but died out it is still taught in every school right up till the end of high school. Some schools here in fact are Irish only – all subjects are taught through the Irish language and the students must speak only in Irish during their school day. My 9 year old son attends one of these Irish speaking schools. In order to help him practice and improve his Irish I have on many occasions tried speaking Irish with him at home only to be completely blanked by him. I had never considered that it might be my change in character or tone that has put him off speaking Irish with me at home! Very interesting post.
Joe.

By: Angela Bougher

Angela Bougher — Fri, 31 May 2013 19:41:39 +0000

A few years ago we had an exchange student from the Dominican Republic. He told me the same thing “you are nicer in Spanish than in English”. I think it is because of the tone of the words.