Born and raised in Barcelona, and now living in London, I was exposed to so many different cultures – and now I feel like I’ve got a different personality depending on the language I’m speaking
Born in Barcelona but raised by Filipino parents, and now living in London, I’ve always been surrounded by different cultures and languages. As I’ve learned languages and expanded my vocabulary, I’ve realised that polyglots switch to a different personality whenever switching languages – and I know that I’m not the only one with this special ability.
I speak two of the most spoken languages in the world – Spanish and English. I tend to be more extroverted in Spanish, whereas in English, I’m more reserved.
According to The Guardian, being able to speak two or more languages can affect our personalities depending on which language we’re speaking. This is referred to as “linguistic relativity”, also known as the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, which is when a language influences one’s thoughts.
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Although many English speakers might feel like learning a second language isn’t necessary, it’s actually quite beneficial. Research by Flash Academy shows that learning a new language enhances cognitive function, improves communication skills, and opens up career opportunities.
Thanks to the rise of social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok, the younger generation who dominate these apps are exposed to a range of different languages and cultures from across the globe.
People are actively learning new languages through television series’ and music. For example, the popularity of K-dramas and K-pop has seen an increase in the number of people learning Korean, as reported by Forbes. The same goes for the third season of White Lotus, which was filmed in Thailand, leading to an interest in learning Thai on an international scale.
Anna Pyshna from online language learning marketplace Preply said in a statement: “More than ever, travellers understand that learning even a little of the local language can dramatically improve their experience. It’s a sign of respect, a way to connect with locals, and a tool for navigating a new country with confidence.”
‘Brits want to be polyglots’
According to Duolingo’s 2024 annual language report, Finland has been named at the top of the polyglot list, with the UK taking second place, followed by Estonia, Germany and Australia.
The report revealed that the main reasons for users learning a second or third language were to support their education, connect with people, and even learn the basics when travelling abroad. The most popular languages in order are: English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Italian, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese and Hindi.
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Language-learning apps have also become more popular throughout the years, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2021, Duolingo’s UK manager Colin Watkins told the BBC that “since Covid there’s been a huge increase in people wanting to learn for a whole variety of reasons – whether that is for [helping with] school, brain training or culture. We have all wanted to do something positive with our time.”
‘My tone and vocabulary changes from one language to the next’
As written in The Conversation, studies have also shown that bilingual people might show a different personality depending on the language they’re using, and the people around them also perceive them differently based on the language they speak.
From my personal experience, I’ve been told that my tone of voice and vocabulary expand much more when speaking in my native language. This is because of the comfort and the ability to express myself using the right terminology – more emotionally compared to how I handle complex situations in other languages.
Knowing a lot of languages has opened many doors, both professionally and personally. Being able to communicate, I’ve made new friendships and made my travel experiences smoother by communicating with locals.
Nevertheless, being a polyglot isn’t about just knowing how to speak different languages but about unlocking different versions of yourself. Each language allows me to express myself differently, affecting how I feel, think and communicate with others.
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