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Forgetting your own language...?

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Total Posts
41
bagnz0r
Topic Starter
bagnz0r
Do you guys have problems speaking your native language? This question is not directed at people who are native English speakers. For example, it's easier for me to find some word in English rather than in Polish.
I've even failed Polish exam thanks to that reason - 45% out of 100% thanks to the fact I wasn't able to describe something in Polish, so I've used English.
zagrom_old
45 posts
Joined March 2010
zagrom_old
Haha, well for me I forget how to spell things if nothing else,
Thank god firefox checks my spelling >.<

(and even then sometimes I misspell so bad firefox doesnt
know what I mean and I have to go to google XD)
bagnz0r
Topic Starter
bagnz0r

zagrom wrote:

Haha, well for me I forget how to spell things if nothing else,
Thank god firefox checks my spelling >.<

(and even then sometimes I misspell so bad firefox doesnt
know what I mean and I have to go to google XD)
But people would still understand what are you trying to say. In my case, I don't even remember how to say a thing. :D
zagrom_old
45 posts
Joined March 2010
zagrom_old
Oh, well no, Im not THAT bad about it XD

Why is it that way with you? Does a lot of your family
speak English or something?
anonymous_old
0 posts
Here since the beginning
anonymous_old
With some concepts, I have a better time explaining them in French rather than English, even though I'm far from fluent in French. =]

I'm sure Larto has some input on this issue.
bagnz0r
Topic Starter
bagnz0r

zagrom wrote:

Oh, well no, Im not THAT bad about it XD

Why is it that way with you? Does a lot of your family
speak English or something?
Nope. First - I almost never make contact with people around me, just in need.
That makes me spend most of my time on the net, and in fact using English.
Ephemeral
Inland Empire
3,945 posts
Joined April 2009
Ephemeral

BagnoGamer wrote:

zagrom wrote:

Oh, well no, Im not THAT bad about it XD

Why is it that way with you? Does a lot of your family
speak English or something?
Nope. First - I almost never make contact with people around me, just in need.
That makes me spend most of my time on the net, and in fact using English.
It's probably not all that surprising that you're forgetting a language you used to use for primary communication when you're not communicating anymore.

You should probably get that checked out. It's not healthy to isolate yourself like that.
IppE
IppE
Some things are hard to explain in finnish at times because some words just have no real counterparts in finnish.

I'm not forgetting the language though, seeing as I use it daily ;)
zagrom_old
45 posts
Joined March 2010
zagrom_old

BagnoGamer wrote:

zagrom wrote:

Oh, well no, Im not THAT bad about it XD

Why is it that way with you? Does a lot of your family
speak English or something?
Nope. First - I almost never make contact with people around me, just in need.
That makes me spend most of my time on the net, and in fact using English.
Haha, oh ya, that makes sense, I did the same, shame I didnt learn a
new language doing so tho =_=
Breeze
osu! Alumni
4,949 posts
Joined March 2009
Breeze
Even I would speak in Japanese sometime, I won't forget Chinese > <
Well, My English sucks :roll:
The_Priest_In_Yellow
319 posts
Joined September 2008
The_Priest_In_Yellow
problems speaking
bagnz0r
Topic Starter
bagnz0r

Ephemeral wrote:

You should probably get that checked out. It's not healthy to isolate yourself like that.
I wonder about that.
Larto
4,128 posts
Joined June 2008
Larto

strager wrote:

I'm sure Larto has some input on this issue.
Indeed. At times I really forgot pretty simple German words, even though I can think immediately think of the meaning in English. But I usually remember the word a few seconds later, so it's not that bad ^_^
zagrom_old
45 posts
Joined March 2010
zagrom_old
now here is a question that relates,

How many of you think in one language but speak in another?
Randy96
1,113 posts
Joined August 2009
Randy96

zagrom wrote:

now here is a question that relates,

How many of you think in one language but speak in another?
Haha, oh yeah! I know barely any Vietnamese, and I need to relate to English to find a correct word to use.
bagnz0r
Topic Starter
bagnz0r

zagrom wrote:

now here is a question that relates,

How many of you think in one language but speak in another?
I never think using one language. I'm able to think using language I speak at the time.
For example, when I speak English - I think in English. When I speak Polish - I think in Polish (with few exceptions). When I speak Japanese - well... I think in Japanese.
Card N'FoRcE
osu! Alumni
4,058 posts
Here since the beginning
Card N'FoRcE
I don't think you should limit this topic only to "words".

I mean, the main problem i get when switching from italian to english (and viceversa) is that sometimes you have to say something in a completely different way for each language. This includes words, sentences and so on.

So yeah, sometimes i get sentences i do understand but i can't translate properly because of this, but this happens for both languages (eng -> ita, ita -> eng) and i honestly think it's normal.

(Did i go off-topic?)
FurukawaPan
649 posts
Joined August 2008
FurukawaPan
Yeah, it's pretty normal to think in the language you are speaking. This is because translation is more difficult, and a lot slower. When you start to learn a new language, however, in my experience I started off translating everything in my head at first, until it felt natural enough to just think in the same language.
nhii
15 posts
Joined July 2009
nhii
I "supposedly" forgot my native language. . I mean, i can understand you speak vietnamese clearly, but I won't understand a Vietnamese DOCTOR of sort.

but honestly I don't think I've forgotten Vietnamese at all, I was born in the U.S, my whole family, Vietnam.

Once you think about it, I never really "knew" that much Viet in the first place to start off with, I never studied how to read or write in Vietnamese neither, so there really isn't anything to base this off of.

It's just my vast knowledge of Anglais/englishGO lool, is > Vietnamese knowledge.
anonymous_old
0 posts
Here since the beginning
anonymous_old

zagrom wrote:

How many of you think in one language but speak in another?
It's common for people and other intelligent or unintelligent entities to learn a language while thinking in their more known language. As james039 said, you're basically translating until you become more comfortable with things.

For me, I don't really think in languages most of the time, but I guess you could say even when I'm in an English-surrounded environment I sometimes think of French words or sentences instead of English. Of course, the reverse is true, and more common, because my French vocabulary is almost nil. =]

nhii, can you speak Vietnamese, or just understand?
Gens
osu! Alumni
3,485 posts
Joined August 2008
Gens
"...I don't really think most of the time..." Grah, I swear I read that first.

But yeah, I like to practice English in my head when I'm bored, but my English vocabulary isn't fluent enough to think on it all the time.
Hanyuu
2,223 posts
Joined February 2009
Hanyuu

zagrom wrote:

Haha, well for me I forget how to spell things if nothing else,
Thank god firefox checks my spelling >.<

(and even then sometimes I misspell so bad firefox doesnt
know what I mean and I have to go to google XD)
hey how can you make firefox check your spelling?
TKiller
4,390 posts
Joined May 2009
TKiller
I remember that when I was graduating from school, I got 66 out of 100 in Russian and 97 in English on my last exams. Huh.

But well, I'm totally sure that I won't ever forget my language, it's too hard. Though sometimes when I speak, I really miss right words because of way I think in two languages at the same time with usage of some words from other languages I'm not fluent in.
Mitano
49 posts
Joined January 2009
Mitano

TKiller wrote:

I remember that when I was graduating from school, I got 66 out of 100 in Russian and 97 in English on my last exams. Huh.

But well, I'm totally sure that I won't ever forget my language, it's too hard. Though sometimes when I speak, I really miss right words because of way I think in two languages at the same time with usage of some words from other languages I'm not fluent in.
Same for me but in general, exams in your own language are harder than those you have to learn
TKiller
4,390 posts
Joined May 2009
TKiller

Mitano wrote:

exams in your own language are harder than those you have to learn
well, I must admit, that's kinda true
Lum Moroboshi
47 posts
Joined March 2009
Lum Moroboshi
Well...My first language was not english. It is Sign Language. Since I can now speak, I am forgetting about 90% of what I learned through my life. Things like this happens, when you don't use it daily anymore.
anonymous_old
0 posts
Here since the beginning
anonymous_old
I forgot how to say "Christmas" in English (I kept thinking Noël) today.

Arg.
NoHitter
osu! Alumni
3,785 posts
Joined June 2009
NoHitter
I experience it.

Why did they make English the current worldwide language?
mekadon_old
mekadon_old
Actually, in most national exams, I always get borderline A's for Malay. Plus I speak English to most people actually in my life.

NoHItter wrote:

IWhy did they make English the current worldwide language?
Basically many will protest this and do demonstrations and so on. Common sense I guess
0_o
2,155 posts
Joined December 2008
0_o
A little off-topic, but w/e, it's interesting.
They did a study at my university where they had students who were born in China describe themselves in either Chinese or English. The ones who described themselves in English described themselves like any other Canadian; more positive than negative statements, they were in a more positive mood, and reported a relatively high self esteem. However, the ones asked to describe themselves in Chinese, they made more collective self-statements, reported more agreement to Chinese cultural values, and reported toughly equal positive and negative self-statements and similar levels of positive and negative mood.

So yeah, language itself does change the way people think.
anonymous_old
0 posts
Here since the beginning
anonymous_old

0_o wrote:

A little off-topic, but w/e, it's interesting.
They did a study at my university where they had students who were born in China describe themselves in either Chinese or English. The ones who described themselves in English described themselves like any other Canadian; more positive than negative statements, they were in a more positive mood, and reported a relatively high self esteem. However, the ones asked to describe themselves in Chinese, they made more collective self-statements, reported more agreement to Chinese cultural values, and reported toughly equal positive and negative self-statements and similar levels of positive and negative mood.

So yeah, language itself does change the way people think.
I've seen similar with Japanese people and English.

Though yes, it's a bit off-topic. =]
Neo Adonis
320 posts
Joined November 2009
Neo Adonis

Gens wrote:

"I like to practice English in my head when I'm bored, but my English vocabulary isn't fluent enough to think on it all the time.
I try to do that, but as same as Gens, sometimes I can't. Oh well...

And yeah, a few times I forgot my elemental Spanish because of the English. Not as several as you, Bagno. Just I must search for the Spanish word in my mind for a few seconds. ^^
alvisto
881 posts
Joined April 2009
alvisto

mekadon95 wrote:

Actually, in most national exams, I always get borderline A's for Malay. Plus I speak English to most people actually in my life.
My Malay sucks, but my mother language is still Chinese, and thanks to the vast choices of Taiwan and Hong Kong drama, my Chinese will never be forgotten.

0_o wrote:

A little off-topic, but w/e, it's interesting.
They did a study at my university where they had students who were born in China describe themselves in either Chinese or English. The ones who described themselves in English described themselves like any other Canadian; more positive than negative statements, they were in a more positive mood, and reported a relatively high self esteem. However, the ones asked to describe themselves in Chinese, they made more collective self-statements, reported more agreement to Chinese cultural values, and reported toughly equal positive and negative self-statements and similar levels of positive and negative mood.

So yeah, language itself does change the way people think.
Interesting and true, for me, since I experience that as well.

Take for instance, I was never involved in any English forum actively before, and never speak to foreigners (who are naturally fluent English speaker). However, after almost a year in osu!, my friends notice that the way I speak / and type (during msn or sms) in English is so "foreigner" like and different, and "international" like. (The way Malaysian speak English is so totally different, plus I don't always speak English) They even say when I speak/type in English, I was cocky and extrovert, but when I am communicating in Chinese, I am my old shy-introvert Alvis.

I guess language really do have an influence, and osu! is a big part of that influence. Looking back, I can't believe me expressing myself in English in such an assertive form. But, my speech sucks. xD I can't even speak/imitate you guys' accent. lol
Nice Guy_old
8 posts
Joined March 2010
Nice Guy_old

BagnoGamer wrote:

Do you guys have problems speaking your native language? This question is not directed at people who are native English speakers. For example, it's easier for me to find some word in English rather than in Polish.
I've even failed Polish exam thanks to that reason - 45% out of 100% thanks to the fact I wasn't able to describe something in Polish, so I've used English.
Not actually. If you are born on your native country, you'll get use to it easily IMO.
Breeze
osu! Alumni
4,949 posts
Joined March 2009
Breeze

alvisto wrote:

SPOILER

mekadon95 wrote:

Actually, in most national exams, I always get borderline A's for Malay. Plus I speak English to most people actually in my life.
My Malay sucks, but my mother language is still Chinese, and thanks to the vast choices of Taiwan and Hong Kong drama, my Chinese will never be forgotten.

0_o wrote:

A little off-topic, but w/e, it's interesting.
They did a study at my university where they had students who were born in China describe themselves in either Chinese or English. The ones who described themselves in English described themselves like any other Canadian; more positive than negative statements, they were in a more positive mood, and reported a relatively high self esteem. However, the ones asked to describe themselves in Chinese, they made more collective self-statements, reported more agreement to Chinese cultural values, and reported toughly equal positive and negative self-statements and similar levels of positive and negative mood.

So yeah, language itself does change the way people think.
Interesting and true, for me, since I experience that as well.

Take for instance, I was never involved in any English forum actively before, and never speak to foreigners (who are naturally fluent English speaker). However, after almost a year in osu!, my friends notice that the way I speak / and type (during msn or sms) in English is so "foreigner" like and different, and "international" like. (The way Malaysian speak English is so totally different, plus I don't always speak English) They even say when I speak/type in English, I was cocky and extrovert, but when I am communicating in Chinese, I am my old shy-introvert Alvis.

I guess language really do have an influence, and osu! is a big part of that influence. Looking back, I can't believe me expressing myself in English in such an assertive form. But, my speech sucks. xD I can't even speak/imitate you guys' accent. lol
Haha, before I joined osu!, I never knew what "brb atm imo" etc. means, I nearly know nothing about few short in English
osu! has improved my English, that's true and I aprreciate that.
I'm learning Japanese, here I could chat to few Japanese :D
Henkie
728 posts
Joined July 2008
Henkie
My dutch gets worse and worse, so.. yeah.
Roddie
osu! Alumni
1,468 posts
Joined June 2009
Roddie
I cant speak Spanish as much. Didn't live in Venezuela for too long. :( But I can understand a little though.
So...yea. I'm forgetting my Spanish. :o
bmin11
5,438 posts
Joined October 2008
bmin11
I have never seen a Korean forgetting their mother language before. I guess it is still because they are in a young age (high school teenagers) I guess
Pokebis
2,047 posts
Joined April 2008
Pokebis
Being a native English speaker makes things pretty easy for me since even things of other origin usually contain a bit of english in them.
I do want to note I have trouble thinking logically, socially, and practically (not descriptively, however) without a language. Like whenever I think about something I think it in English. I can't think without a language. It's a bit odd considering at some point I didn't have mastery of English. Once I become more familiar with other languages I think thinking in them would be helpful in learning.
That being said, I think I could move to any country and still retain my english. I would probably keep consuming english-language media and talk to native english speakers online and such.
arien666
6,290 posts
Joined May 2009
arien666
Sometimes, I forgot some Korean words which are not usually used :3...
Whatever I said, I have to keep my Korean language thing ;_;
Asenath
91 posts
Joined November 2009
Asenath
Usually I forgot common words in Spanish, like today, I couldn't remember the meaning of "gap" and "onion" and it was while I was talking in Spanish, so, yeah, it happens xD
But maybe is because I'm studying English at college and I have to deal whit that language almost the whole day D:
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