Thread: Does speaking a language make you think like a local ?

Originally Posted by Frankenstein

No, you don't necessarily start to think 'like' the locals by learning the language.

If that were true, what then do you make of people who speak 12 languages... they would all be completely schizophrenic.

Some people make a conscious choice to adapt to the local culture, but that is a separate decision from speaking the language, it is just that people who decide to adapt, as a consequence of this decision, are likely to choose to learn speaking the language.


And your argument about the language itself being primitive is scientifically falsifiable as well. The fact that the language, as spoken on street level lacks distinction, does not mean that the language used by the educated elite is poorly developed or primitive, it is just a reflection of the generally low level of education in the country.

And also, as I think Frankenstein implies or states, learning the language of your host country can help you understand more of the nuances of the culture.

I think ALL foreigners should at the very least make it to elementary level of the language of the nation they are living in.