Have you ever wondered how the language we speak influences our emotions and the way we perceive reality? According to various studies in psycholinguistics, cognitive psychology and linguistic anthropology, the languages ​​we use not only allow us to communicate, but also shape our perception of the world and ourselves.

Today, more than half of the world’s population uses two or more languages ​​in their daily lives. Whether due to education, immigration or family background, bilingualism and multilingualism are increasingly common phenomena in our globalized society.

How does knowing two or more languages ​​affect the way we process emotions? Recent research suggests that each language can make speakers perceive reality in different ways . They may even feel that they themselves change when they switch between languages.

Other studies have shown that bilingual individuals may behave differently depending on which language they are using; they are also perceived differently by their interlocutors depending on the language they use.

The weight of emotions in languages

Bilingual speakers process words that define or describe emotions differently in their native language (or the language that humans learn from childhood and that functions as their instrument of thought and communication) and in their second or target language (the language that has been the objective of learning, in a formal or natural context). The native language usually has an emotional advantage over the second language: bilingual speakers feel greater emotional intensity when using the native language, especially when recalling experiences lived in that language.

For example, some studies have shown that when reliving childhood memories, people describe them with more detail and emotion if they do so in their native language, since that was the language in which they labeled those experiences. In contrast, the second language can provide a certain emotional distance, allowing speakers to reduce anxiety or embarrassment when communicating in complex situations, such as those involving the expression of anger or apology. In other words, they perceive the native language as more emotionally rich, while they see the second language as more practical, but less expressive. As a result, emotional expression in the native language is perceived more intensely regardless of whether the emotion is positive or negative.

Am I the same person?

The choice of language in which bilinguals communicate not only affects emotional intensity, but also the way people perceive themselves and others. Using one language or another can influence the construction of discourse and reveal cultural and social aspects specific to the linguistic communities to which they belong.

In a study of Chinese-English bilingual speakers in the US, participants reported feeling more comfortable expressing emotions in English (their second language) due to fewer social restrictions, but experiencing greater emotional intensity in Mandarin (their native language).

Thus, the second language can offer some advantages in contexts where speakers prefer to maintain emotional distance, both for personal and sociocultural reasons. By expressing emotions in a less emotionally connected language, people can reduce feelings of shame, anxiety or personal involvement. Especially when we speak a mother tongue that belongs to a culture in which greater value is placed on the collective and there is less tradition of sharing feelings.

Language proficiency and the environment in which we learned it

The level of mastery of the second language also has a great influence: parents prefer their mother tongue to express emotions when speaking to their children – for example, to reprimand them – if this is the language they master best; however, if they have a second language that they also master, they may choose it for emotional content.

The environment in which the second language was learned can also be a determining factor. In cases where learning has taken place in a formal or academic context rather than a familiar one, speakers report more anxiety when communicating in public, despite being competent.

Emotion, identity and language learning

Our life experiences, age of language acquisition, and context of use influence how we process and express our emotions in different languages. Understanding these dynamics not only enriches our knowledge about language and the human mind, but also helps us improve intercultural communication and emotional understanding in an increasingly diverse and connected world.

The implications for second language teaching are also important. Whether or not students feel happy and satisfied with the way they perceive themselves in the language they are learning, that is, with the identity they have constructed in that language, will be key to knowing whether they feel strange or different when they speak in that language. The role of the teacher will be, in any case, to contribute to making students feel less strange in the language they are learning.

The attitude towards the language being learned is therefore crucial: it influences how we evaluate our experiences with the language, which impacts how we face challenges, how we see ourselves and how we think others see us. The better the attitude, the greater the satisfaction with the process and the better the emotional connection with the language. The result will be a stronger identity in the new language and, therefore, deeper and more effective learning.

Author Bios: Mari Mar Boillos Pereira is Associate Professor at the Faculty of Education of Bilbao at the University of the Basque Country / Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea and Ana Blanco Canales is Professor of Spanish Language at the University of Alcalá