Experts help explore the complex relationship between language, personality and the way we see ourselves
You might crack jokes effortlessly in Hindi, turn to Telugu when emotions become difficult to explain, sound articulate during an English presentation, and banter in French with the familiarity of home. The language changes, and sometimes, so does the way you express yourself. For multilingual Indians, this shift is part of everyday life.
People switch languages while speaking to friends, colleagues and family, often without realising it. But have you ever wondered why you feel more confident in one language and more emotionally vulnerable in another? The answer lies in the complex relationship between language, memory, culture and identity.
Lost In Translation
“Sometimes, I can explain a complicated idea in English but struggle to express the same feeling in my mother tongue,” says Radhika G, a multilingual corporate professional. The language may change, but the feeling remains. What changes is how easily we can express it.
Think of saying “I am sorry” in English and expressing the same apology in Malayalam, Hindi, Konkani, Telugu or Spanish. Although the meaning may be similar, the emotional weight can feel different depending on the relationship and context.
Power Of Words
Dr. Dipika Singh, a psychologist and bilingualism researcher, explains, “Each language brings to the forefront different cultural experiences, different memories, and different aspects of their identity.”
Even affection can get complicated. Some people find it easier to say “I love you” in English, while others feel that their mother tongue conveys warmth more naturally. The words are not necessarily inadequate; the emotional associations attached to them are different.
Tools of Communication
Language is more than a tool for communication. It carries our experiences, cultural references and social conditioning. The language we grow up speaking at home may feel instinctive, while the one learnt in school may bring greater structure and formality. These associations, however, differ from person to person.
Emotional Connection
Our relationship with language often begins in childhood. The words we hear while being comforted, scolded or encouraged become closely associated with the emotions of those moments. Consequently, a familiar language may evoke stronger feelings than one learnt later in life.
Research on bilingualism suggests that emotional responses can vary depending on the language being used. A second language may sometimes create emotional distance, making difficult conversations easier. Conversely, a first language may make an experience feel more immediate and personal.
The Art of Switching
In India, switching between languages is almost second nature. A conversation might begin in English, drift into Telegu, and end in Hindi. Linguists call this code-switching the practice of moving between languages or language varieties within a conversation.
Code-switching can help speakers express humour, establish familiarity and adapt to different social settings. A particular phrase may communicate something that sounds awkward or incomplete when translated literally.
“Code-switching is not simply about knowing multiple languages. It can also reflect how speakers use their linguistic resources to communicate in different contexts,” says Sherlyn George, a linguist. “Code-switching is a verbal skill requiring a large degree of linguistic competence in more than one language, rather than a defect arising from insufficient knowledge of either language,” she explains.
The shift can also reflect social expectations. We may use formal English at work, a regional language with elders and a comfortable mix of Hindi and English among friends. Each setting encourages a slightly different style of expression.
Language And Identity
Language can connect us to a community, but it can also make us feel excluded. People who move to new cities may learn local languages to feel accepted. Accents and vocabulary can influence how others perceive us, too. Some speakers consciously change the way they speak to fit into professional environments, while others hold on to familiar expressions as a reminder of where they come from.
Psychologists describe related shifts as cultural frame-switching – people adjust their interpretations or behaviour in response to cultural cues. Language can be one such cue, although personality, context and individual experiences also matter.
More Than One Voice
Does speaking four languages mean having four personalities? No. Language does not automatically change who we are, but it can bring different aspects of our personality to the forefront. The person who is reserved in English, expressive in Telugu, witty in Hindi and affectionate in French.
The real beauty of multilingualism lies in this flexibility. And somewhere between the words we inherit, the languages we learn and the expressions we make our own, we discover that identity does not always speak in one voice.
Indian Languages
• 22 languages are listed in the Constitution.
• 121 languages were identified in Census 2011 as being spoken by at least
10,000 people each.
• The Indian government
has identified 117 endangered languages for documentation through its language-preservation programme.
Each language brings to the forefront different cultural experiences, different memories, different aspects of their identity.”
— Dr. Dipika Singh, Psychologist & bilingualism researcher
Sometimes, I can explain a complicated idea in English but struggle to express the same feeling in my mother tongue.”
— Radhika G, Multilingual Professional
Code-switching is not simply about knowing multiple languages. It reflects how speakers use their linguistic resources to communicate in different contexts.”
— Sherlyn George, Linguist
