Decision making in a second language - more distant ?

[reddragon]

Does decision making in a second language make you more distant and less emotionally involved.... I find my frame of mind changes when I am thinking/speaking in another language apart from english ...

interesting piece here:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2 ... 141717.htm

[Systematiker]

Maybe. As I recall, many of the studies behind this sort of of thing work with intermediate users of the language who need more time to process.

There was a "living in two languages" piece posted here not too far back (I'm catching up after some time away) that seems to reflect a continuation of distance in even a very strong L2, but anecdotally, it's not been my experience in my strongest L2.

[the1whoknocks]

Nice food for thought. I'd be hesisitant to say I "speak" a foreign language, but I can "communicate" in Spanish.

In terms of being more distant, I can only think to what I’m willing to say. ... I have noticed that I am much more willing, likely even, to say a swear word in Spanish. Even today I’m uncomfortable even typing a swear word in English - if I do, it’s likely because I’m extremely upset. I have friends who swear in English, and I think it’s often hilarious, but I typically don’t swear.

In my case, that’s noteworthy because I even have a favorite, and very versatile, swear word in Spanish. I use it fairly often. However, it doesn’t carry the same weight, or emotion, as it would were I to say it in English. Friends are OK with it. Occasionally, that word slips out and I’ll have to check around in hopes that the wrong person didn’t hear – but that’s after the fact.

My actions, as far as I’ve noticed, are usually in check regardless of the language I’m speaking. Still, I’m much more free with the tongue in a foreign language. Possibly has to do with the fact that I have friends who tried to get me to say them when I started learning Spanish … who knows.

... an interesting question.

[Random Review]

I think sometimes you can know too many things. The following may seem off topic, but I think it's related. I noticed I "got" poetry in Spanish (I obviously missed a lot due to my level, but I got something out of it). I never really understood poetry in English after I reached my teens and I think it's because I developed myself in an unbalanced way (a focus on logical, explicit thinking, details, etc.). Paradoxically reading poetry in L2, where your knowledge of the language is weaker allows the more intuitive understanding to come through without being swamped.