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Totally side question - are you Russian by nature and language? If you are, I'm wondering if you ever feel limited by English as a language. Do you feel like

by wsinks 9y ago

Totally side question - are you Russian by nature and language? If you are, I'm wondering if you ever feel limited by English as a language. Do you feel like you have bigger, better ideas in Russian?

prodmerc 9y ago
I'm not Russian, but it feels like emotional responses are more... emotional in Russian. Like thinking about something or swearing. English is a more rational language, and my "native" (I don't use it much) language is a bit restrictive when expressing anything, whether logical or emotional.
- ams6110 9y ago
  Strikes me as more of a cultural difference than language. There are certainly English-speaking people who swear a lot, and creatively, and others who rarely utter a profane word.
  - prodmerc 9y ago
    Swearing in English just doesn't have the same effect for me.
paviva 9y ago
You didn't ask me, but I am compelled to answer because its an interesting question, and, well, Russian is my native language. Till the age of eleven, I was essentially speaking only Russian. They did teach us some pretty rudimentary English at school, just enough to ask for directions in a foreign country. Then, my family moved to Canada, and I had to learn French. It took about 2 years to attain a native-level proficiency. Then, I learned English as a "second language" (actually third, of course) here in Canada. French is the language I use most. Thus, my largest and most precise vocabulary is in French, and this is obviously the easiest language to express myself. However, I don't feel constrained by a language while talking/writing in English or Russian. Worst case scenario, I have to turn to Google to translate some precise French word when the English equivalent does not come fast enough. In general, I think in whatever language I am using at the moment, and the best ideas can come in any of those three languages.

by wsinks 9y ago

Totally side question - are you Russian by nature and language? If you are, I'm wondering if you ever feel limited by English as a language. Do you feel like you have bigger, better ideas in Russian?

prodmerc 9y ago

I'm not Russian, but it feels like emotional responses are more... emotional in Russian. Like thinking about something or swearing. English is a more rational language, and my "native" (I don't use it much) language is a bit restrictive when expressing anything, whether logical or emotional.

ams6110 9y ago
Strikes me as more of a cultural difference than language. There are certainly English-speaking people who swear a lot, and creatively, and others who rarely utter a profane word.
- prodmerc 9y ago
  Swearing in English just doesn't have the same effect for me.

paviva 9y ago

You didn't ask me, but I am compelled to answer because its an interesting question, and, well, Russian is my native language. Till the age of eleven, I was essentially speaking only Russian. They did teach us some pretty rudimentary English at school, just enough to ask for directions in a foreign country. Then, my family moved to Canada, and I had to learn French. It took about 2 years to attain a native-level proficiency. Then, I learned English as a "second language" (actually third, of course) here in Canada. French is the language I use most. Thus, my largest and most precise vocabulary is in French, and this is obviously the easiest language to express myself. However, I don't feel constrained by a language while talking/writing in English or Russian. Worst case scenario, I have to turn to Google to translate some precise French word when the English equivalent does not come fast enough. In general, I think in whatever language I am using at the moment, and the best ideas can come in any of those three languages.