3 ms·

As a multi(poly?)lingual person I had never consciously thought of this but after going over every language I know I can see, I perceive time in distance, volum

As a multi(poly?)lingual person I had never consciously thought of this but after going over every language I know I can see, I perceive time in distance, volume as well as sizes. Interestingly a couple of languages I know depict time in distance as well as sizes depending on the context.

Sunset 9y ago
Do you "perceive time" or do you "express time". As a multilingual person myself. I don't "think in a language". I "think" in something innate which can't be described as any language I know. The thoughts are formed instantly and then I simply express them in the language the other party will understand. Almost automatically. I don't have to work to "translate" between these innate collections of ideas to spoken language, it happens automatically. Some people tell me their inner thoughts are in a certain language, but that's not the case for me. So I would like a clarification. Do you "think in a language"?
- palakchokshi 9y ago
  I do think in a language but that changes based on situations too. For abstract thoughts I think in English, for planning thoughts I think in another language, etc. It is not a conscious choice, my brain somehow picks a language for thought
gumby 9y ago
You are equally multilingual and polyglottal (though apparently neither a Latin or Greek speaker). Most Americans are monoglots (i.e. unilingual). Except when they say (yuck!!) "monolingual" -- a horrible neologism that of course isn't.
- lillesvin 9y ago
  "Monolingual" is the standard term in linguistics. You'll be hard pressed to find anyone using the term "unilingual". (I get that you want to mix Latin with Latin, but that's not how language works — especially not when it's borrowed into a language. I notice you also pluralize "monoglots" in English rather than Greek...) Furthermore, the distinction in linguistics between "-glot" and "-lingual" is that "-lingual" is used in reference to native language(s) whereas "-glot" is used about the languages a person is able to speak at a given level without them necessarily being native languages. So — to a linguist at least — you can be a monolingual polyglot if you have one native language but e.g. conversational knowledge of 4 other languages.

Sunset 9y ago

Do you "perceive time" or do you "express time". As a multilingual person myself. I don't "think in a language". I "think" in something innate which can't be described as any language I know. The thoughts are formed instantly and then I simply express them in the language the other party will understand. Almost automatically. I don't have to work to "translate" between these innate collections of ideas to spoken language, it happens automatically. Some people tell me their inner thoughts are in a certain language, but that's not the case for me. So I would like a clarification. Do you "think in a language"?

palakchokshi 9y ago
I do think in a language but that changes based on situations too. For abstract thoughts I think in English, for planning thoughts I think in another language, etc. It is not a conscious choice, my brain somehow picks a language for thought

gumby 9y ago

You are equally multilingual and polyglottal (though apparently neither a Latin or Greek speaker). Most Americans are monoglots (i.e. unilingual). Except when they say (yuck!!) "monolingual" -- a horrible neologism that of course isn't.

lillesvin 9y ago
"Monolingual" is the standard term in linguistics. You'll be hard pressed to find anyone using the term "unilingual". (I get that you want to mix Latin with Latin, but that's not how language works — especially not when it's borrowed into a language. I notice you also pluralize "monoglots" in English rather than Greek...) Furthermore, the distinction in linguistics between "-glot" and "-lingual" is that "-lingual" is used in reference to native language(s) whereas "-glot" is used about the languages a person is able to speak at a given level without them necessarily being native languages. So — to a linguist at least — you can be a monolingual polyglot if you have one native language but e.g. conversational knowledge of 4 other languages.