Is Continual English Thinking Impacting Your Native Language Proficiency?
When considering the impact of consistently thinking in one language over another, it is crucial to assess your goals and needs. Thinking in a language can be a significant boost to that language's proficiency, reflecting your importance and familiarity with it. However, it is vital to ensure that you maintain enough use of all your languages to prevent forgetting them.
Choosing Your Language of Thought
It is possible to choose which language to think in by willingness and intent. Decades ago, I decided to think in English, and since then, this has been my primary language of thought. While it can take a few days to fully adapt to a new language of thought, it is indeed possible to change languages quickly with adequate skills. After a couple of years, I managed to switch two languages in a single day.
The Role of Language Level and Age
Whether it is normal or not to think in multiple languages depends on various factors, including age and language proficiency. If your proficiency in both English and your native language is not fluent, it can be challenging to maintain a balance between both languages. Personally, if I were to think in both languages simultaneously, one of them would significantly dominate due to differing levels of fluency.
Take into account your age as well. If you are within a certain age range, it might be easier to switch languages because the neurological pathways for language are more adaptable at younger ages. However, the effort to switch languages remains important regardless of age.
Living Bilingually
My experience is that living in a predominantly English-speaking area for a long period can significantly influence your thought process. I lived in London for 50 years before moving to a French territory. While I had to start learning French almost from scratch, after 16 years, I was close to fluency. Yet, despite extensive efforts to think in French, I often found myself translating from English into French during conversations. This indicates that even with extensive practice, the initial language of thought can persist.
If you are bilingual, you might find that you think in the language of the country you are currently living in. For example, if you are in the United States, you might automatically think in English, while in Germany, you might switch to German. Even with a proficiency in a third language, such as a bit of Spanish, you might find that you occasionally think in it, especially in a Spanish-speaking environment.
Stay True to Yourself and Be Unique
Ultimately, the choice of language for thought is a personal one. It is perfectly fine to decide to think in English, as long as you continue to engage with your native language to retain its fluency. Remember, being normal is boring; being unique and staying true to yourself is what matters. As Robert Frost beautifully put it, 'I took the road less traveled and it has made all the difference in the world.' Embrace your unique language proficiency!