MULTILINGUALS: YOUR PERSONALITY CHANGES WHEN

YOU CHANGE LANGUAGE

We have all met multilinguals and marvel at their ability to change from one language to the another
seamlessly. While you may be envious of their ability to speak more than one language are you
aware that they may behave differently depending on which language they are speaking?

Discover the latest thinking on multilinguals and how their personality may well change depending
on which language they are speaking.

MULTILINGUALS: MOUNTING RESEARCH POINTS TO CHANGE OF

PERSONALITY

An interesting concept has been explored about multilingualism and personality in an article
published in The Economist. It questions whether a speaker’s personality can change when their
spoken language changes.

Being able to speak another language is generally linked to a more flexible

brain
Many issues are considered. For example, being able to speak another language is linked to a more
flexible brain. This, coupled with cultural influences amongst languages, may have an impact.

For example, some multinguals reported a difference in speaking style. These differences ranged
from the level of perceived rudeness to frequency of interrupting another speaker.

Reasons cited for these characteristics included cultural differences in the acceptance of more rude
language to the structural differences between the languages spoken.

Word order may have an impact. If the meaning of the sentence is revealed earlier in one language,
interrupting in that language may reduce the risk of misunderstanding the speaker if the significant
word or words have already been uttered.

If the meaning of the sentence is revealed earlier in one language, interrupting

in that language may reduce the risk of misunderstanding
LACK OF SUBTLETY AND NUANCES WHEN LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE
Different speaking styles may exist with little choice, especially as they are being learnt.

Many language learners report that when learning a new language they often feel too blunt or direct,
not because they wish to be so, but because they have not yet developed a sufficient vocabulary in
which to be more nuanced.

Many new language learners report that they often feel too blunt or direct
Others report that they are still translating words in their head when speaking in their new
languageand may not have an awareness or are forced to ignore subtleties in the other language.

LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

The connections between language and culture are complex, and no doubt have some influence on
language and personality.

The author of the article goes on to explain how in a French-speaking country in West Africa there is
a tradition of greeting complete strangers with a hearty ‘bonjour’.

Meanwhile, next door in an adjacent English-speaking West African country the author noted it
would be odd to say ‘hello’ to a complete stranger for no apparent reason in English!

The connections between language and culture are complex and no doubt
have some influence on language and personality
THE LINK BETWEEN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
Many multilinguals are not necessarily multicultural. For example, a business professional may learn
another language for work, but as an adult, they are much more likely to transfer their own culture
into their new language or perhaps merge their new language skill into the corporate culture.

On the other hand, there are people who grew up in a truly multicultural environment, where their
cultural reference points are likely to switch along with the shift of language.

This was explained to the author of the article by someone who was born and raised in Gibraltar with
one Spanish parent and one British parent. Growing up bilingual, he explained a constant feeling of
needing to either restrain or express himself if he was speaking the language that did not match his
emotional state at the time!

BILINGUALISM AND PERSONALITY: LEVEL OF FLUENCY CANNOT BE

IGNORED
Finally, the level of linguistic and cultural fluency should not be ignored. Being able to speak a new
language with all of the correct syntax and other formalities may still make the speaker sound like
they have little personality when speaking it.

Transferring the personality of their mother tongue may sound confusing, especially if very different
emotions are expected between the words and actions exhibited.

Only when a speaker matches their linguistic personality with their new language are they likely to
be considered truly multilingual.

This includes the use of slang, tone and matching body language. A whole new you, perhaps?

Only when a speaker matches their linguistic personality with their new
language are they likely to be considered truly multilingual
The English language is the fastest growing language in history with more than 1.75 billion speakers.
It is also the de facto language for team collaboration. Is choosing a common language the right
approach for your organisation? Read on to discover examples of how it can be deployed.

COMMON LANGUAGE: HOW THIS CAN CHANGE YOUR BUSINESS

According to a Harvard Business Review article entitled ‘Global Business Speaks English’, the
English language is the fastest growing language in history, with approximately 1.75 billion speakers.

In simple terms, one in four people on the planet speak or understand English
to some degree.
With the inexorable expansion of international markets, one of the main challenges confronting
global organisations is how do they ensure effective internal communication? English, as the world’s
business lingua franca, is the natural choice.

SPEAKING ENGLISH
There are 385 million native English speakers. Although several other languages have more native
speakers, they lack the global reach of English.

In addition, there are a further one billion speakers in the former British Empire who also speak
English, where it is a common language. Others have learnt it for academic or other purposes,
including 565 million people using it on the internet. Choosing English makes sense.

There are 385 million native English speakers

Adopting a common language in the business environment reduces the difficulties of communicating
internationally, both between an organisation’s globally dispersed office locations as well as with a

Organisations looking to grow through acquisitions and new market development will need to rely on
a common language, almost certainly English.

CORPORATE LANGUAGE
Choosing a common language is the first step in team collaboration. Standardising a corporate
language can also reduce misunderstandings, especially if the use of slang is discouraged and a
glossary of key words and terms is created.

When teams speak the same language, they are much more likely to be united in their approach to
their business regardless of where they are.

The Harvard Business Review article also cites the case of Rakuten, a large Japanese online
business, that recognised the benefits of adopting English as their official corporate language.
Hiroshi Mikitani, Rakuten’s CEO, took the decision to transition his 7,100 Japanese employees to
use business English.
With the need to communicate with numerous global partners, he believes that English language
skills allowed for the enhanced performance of his organisation. He also cited the additional benefit
of contributing to his employees’ wider world view as a result of their newly developed English
language skills.

DISADVANTAGES
However, businesses that operate in another language must also recognise potential dangers in
adopting ‘team English’.

Without the proper positioning of an English language policy, it is possible to meet with resentment
and resistance from employees, especially those whose English is inadequate or for those whose
use of their mother tongue is a particular source of pride. If these difficulties are not overcome, then
team achievements can be less than optimal.

Without an English language policy it is possible to meet with resentment and

resistance from employees
Getting the team to sign up for the benefits of English language skills, both on a personal and a
professional level is critical. PR

4 TOP TIPS FOR LEARNING A LANGUAGE

Many people struggle to learn a foreign language or find it too difficult. But for those who prevail
there are many benefits. Here are some tops tips for learning a language.

People attempting to learn a new language, especially if they are monolingual, are often envious of
polyglots, wondering how they were able to achieve what appears to be beyond their reach. Some
recent articles and publications address the issue of

We have trawled the internet to find some interesting articles that address the issue of language
learning; many advocate a series of tricks or short-cuts which we hope you find useful.

1. RULES FOR LEARNING FOREIGN LANGUAGES IN RECORD TIME

This article highlights several steps describing what to focus on when learning a new language.
Many languages use a relatively small number of words which, when learnt, gives the speaker a
level of proficiency.

2. I LEARNED TO SPEAK FOUR LANGUAGES IN A FEW YEARS: HERE’S HOW

This article explores the successful step-by-step processes of learning another language. The trick
described is how to break down the challenge in easier to manage pieces: pronunciation,
vocabulary, listening and speaking, and describes helpful hints and tips for each step. Read more.

3. HOW TO LEARN A SECOND LANGUAGE

This article identifies language learning challenges in adulthood and how they differ intrinsically from
the natural language learning capabilities of children.

Recognising that learning techniques that come easily to children may not work with adults, often
because childhood skills are lost at puberty, the article explores alternative teaching methods that
may work better for adult language students. Read more.

Tricks include using your senses, your imagination, and the creative use of
establishing connections from your own language.
4. HOW TO USE MEMORY TRICKS TO LEARN LANGUAGES
This article describes detailed memory exercises that are applied to learning another language.
Tricks include using your senses, your imagination, and the creative use of establishing connections
from your own language.

Applying this technique to your experience and building other associations assist in improving your
ability to learn another language.

TOP TIPS FOR LEARNING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Let’s face it – learning a foreign language is difficult – but not impossible. There are many different
ways to learn – some proven and some somewhat more experimental.

We’ve put together some top tips for you. We hope they help you reach your goal of speaking the
language as well as you can.

BEFORE LEARNING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE: WORK OUT WHAT TYPE OF

LEARNER YOU ARE

Whether you select an individual language course, group session, telephone training, eTraining,
intensive course, immersion programme, home-stay or self-study, you need to first understand your
personal preferences and learning style.

Another aspect which will help you to determine the most effective language
training format is to look at your individual learning style
One way of figuring out which training format is best for you is by looking at your own personality
and character.

 eTraining/eLearning requires a level of self-discipline to connect regularly to the site to practise

 Blended – this combines the best of online learning with face-to-face or virtual sessions to
engage with your language trainer
  Individual training sessions work best with people who are able to plan their time effectively as
missing training sessions can have a negative effect on learning

 Group training sessions are effective for people who are willing to work through the language
learning with other group members

DETERMINE THE MOST EFFECTIVE LANGUAGE TRAINING FORMAT FOR

YOU
Knowing your learning style can help you to select the best training format and
approach.
Another aspect which will help you to determine the most effective language training format is to look
at your individual learning style. There are many different models of learning styles, but one model of
learning styles suggests there are three different types.

1. VISUAL LEARNERS
Visual learners need to see things written down and prefer different forms of visual learning like
graphics and videos. Therefore, training which involves lots of verbal discussion in the session and
saves written assignments for self-study may not appeal to them. As a consequence, they may not
benefit from telephone training which lacks visual components

2. KINESTHETIC LEARNERS
Kinesthetic learners prefer active lessons with dynamic games and role plays that apply the learning
to a practical context. They may benefit greatly from group training which includes role plays and
movement.

3. AUDITORY LEARNERS
They understand and acquire information well by listening to explanations or language
dialogues. They may feel more comfortable with training that uses a very communicative approach
and lots of interactive activities

Knowing your learning style can help you to select the best training format and approach.

HAVE YOU HEARD OF HUMANISTIC TECHNIQUES?

Other language training sessions use music and rhythm to tap into the non-
rational and non-conscious influences on language learning
In addition to some of the methods we’ve explored here, there are a number of other training formats
which could appeal to your personal style and preferences. The Community Language Learning
(CLL) format, for example, uses humanistic techniques to engage the whole person in the learning
process.

Your learning style is important for understanding how best to get the most
from your language training
USE OF MUSIC, RHYTHM AND TECHNOLOGY: MANY NEW WAYS OF
LEARNING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Another method is to use music and rhythm to tap into the non-rational and non-conscious
influences on language learning. Increasingly language training also incorporates technology to
increase the impact of training, whether through language eTraining solutions or language media
centres which provide the tools to practise learning from the session.

Before learning a foreign language, it’s really important to think about your learning style as well as
your training objectives. This will ensure that the language training format that you select will give
you the most opportunity to improve your language skills.

WHY LEARNING CHINESE IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK

← As the language with the largest number of speakers, and spoken in an important trading area,
learning Chinese (Mandarin) may prove invaluable for both business and social reasons. However,
many Westerners believe it to be one of the hardest languages to learn. But how true is that
statement?

LEARNING CHINESE – WHY IS IT DIFFICULT?

In the Western world, learning Chinese (Mandarin) is infamously hard for several reasons. Firstly, it
is a language with tones, and using the wrong one can completely change the meaning of a
sentence. For instance, you might think that you are asking for the bill when you are in fact asking to
buy eggs.

Then there are characters, which, unlike the European alphabets, are an unphonetic script with a
specific stroke order. Finally, the language has linguistically nearly nothing in common with the
European languages.

For instance, you might think that you are asking for the bill, when you are in
fact asking to buy eggs
However, there are many elements to the language that make it, from a logical point of view, simple
– even if hard because Westerners are not used to these particular features.

WHAT IS PERCEIVED AS “HARD” IN A LANGUAGE?

What makes a language difficult to learn in the first place? You might say it depends on your mother
tongue, which is a perfectly fair point. The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) has categorised a number
of more commonly taught languages into five groups, based on how big the cultural and/or linguistic
differences are in comparison to English.
The bigger these differences, the more hours an English speaker would need to master the
language. For instance, as Mandarin Chinese has little in common with English, it is categorised as
“exceptionally difficult” by the FSI.

As Mandarin Chinese has little in common with English, it is categorised as

“exceptionally difficult” by the FSI
But what if we were to ignore the mother tongue? Could we then speak of an objectively “difficult”
language? Even though linguists are yet to come up with a black-and-white answer, it is worth
considering factors that may influence a language’s complexity.

Many language learners tend to think that they have to master two things to be fluent: vocabulary
and grammar. However, these two terms are extremely broad, and fail to take many other important
elements of a language into account, such as word length or whether the language is phonetic or
not.

HOW CAN VOCABULARY BE LESS COMPLEX?

When the language that you are learning is from the same language family as your native tongue,
the vocabulary will have similarities too, which makes the new language feel much more accessible.
How else can the difficulty of vocabulary be judged? And can we objectively speak of “complex”
vocabulary – without comparing it to another language?

Can we objectively speak of “complex” vocabulary – without comparing it to

another language?
Breaking down the vocabulary into chunks can give a little more insight into how logical a language
may be. English, for instance, has many words of Ancient Greek or Latin origin. As a consequence,
if you were to come across the words “perfume” or “pneumonia” for the first time, you would be
required to look them up, unless you happened to know Italian, French, or Greek.

On the other hand, in Mandarin Chinese, the meaning of these two words are literally “fragrant
water” and “lung infection” when broken down into their basic components. Assuming that you were
already familiar with these components, you could reasonably guess what the compounds meant,
despite having never come across them before.

WHAT ABOUT LEARNING CHINESE CHARACTERS?

But how does one become more familiar with these components in the first place? Though pinyin is
used as the official Romanisation system for Mandarin Chinese, and essentially works as a
completely phonetic alphabet, it is still problematic for learners.

It is an effective tool for making the spoken language more accessible, but in itself isn’t enough to
gain access to the genuine content that the natives use themselves – as this is primarily available in
Chinese characters only. And to the average Westerner, that unphonetic script is unlike anything
they have encountered before, and incredibly challenging.
Each character started out as a written and consistent form of depicting a
certain object or concept, and over time evolved to the way we know them
today
However, it is important to realise that Chinese characters are logograms, which means that each
character tells its own story, as they represent meaning rather than sound. Each character started
out as a written and consistent form of depicting a certain object or concept, and over time evolved
to the way we know them today.

Consider the first three numerals in Mandarin Chinese, or “concave” and “convex” – could you have
guessed the meaning of these without having any prior knowledge of the language?

By grouping characters, or vocabulary building blocks, you get a similar effect as “fragrant water” for
perfume or “lung infection” for pneumonia.

Characters might also be combined, by either repeating the same character, such as in the image
below or taking multiple different characters and merging them.

By taking a base character, and adding new parts to it, more complex characters can be created.
However, the reader can tell which base characters were used to create this more complex one and
assuming that they already know what these individual parts are, they can also guess what the final
result is likely to mean – a feature that is typical of the language.

GRAMMATICAL COMPLEXITY
Mandarin Chinese also has remarkably straightforward grammar. Unlike e.g. German or Russian,
Mandarin Chinese doesn’t have conjugations nor cases – significantly reducing the burden of having
to memorise endless tables that we are all familiar with from our school days.

Mandarin Chinese doesn’t have conjugations nor cases – significantly

reducing the burden of having to memorise endless tables that we are all
familiar with from our school days
Instead, it has a strict word order, which in fact will make the beginning stages of reading and
listening slightly easier. Another great advantage of Mandarin Chinese is its lack of exceptions – the
language is remarkably regular.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE TONES?

Perhaps seen as the trickiest feature of all to master, the four tones that learners stumble over can
make all the difference between being understood or embarrassing yourself. Though it is certainly
true that tonal languages are rarely found in Europe, this doesn’t mean that non-tonal languages
don’t have tones at all.

The four tones that learners stumble over can make all the difference between
being understood or embarrassing yourself
However, these kinds of tones do not change the lexical meaning of words. Instead, the entire
sentence may be affected, changing e.g. a statement into a question, or implying that the speaker is
being sarcastic.

Realising that you already have the ability to use tones in your mother tongue, even if unconsciously,
is a first step towards making Mandarin Chinese seem a lot less difficult. It is just a matter of training
yourself of being able to instinctively use the correct tone at the right moment – which is still
challenging enough, but it shouldn’t be seen as a feature that makes the language more complex.

As tones result in an additional way of forming lexical contrasts, there is no

need for any particularly long words
This is particularly the case, when you think about the connection between tones and word length –
as tones result in an additional way of forming lexical contrasts, there is no need for any particularly
long words. Consequently, syllables in Mandarin Chinese consist of usually two, and possibly three
distinct sounds. On top of that, it is extremely rare to find any words that have more than three
syllables (or characters).

SO, LEARNING CHINESE – DIFFICULT?

At the end of the day, any language has their own challenges, which come with different rewards. If
you are tackling a language with many cases, the word order will be flexible. If you are working with
an unphonetic script, the logograms will help you on your way when it comes to meaning. If the
language is tonal, you will be faced with a shorter word length.

At the end of the day, any language has their own challenges, which come
with different rewards
Due to the logical nature of the Mandarin Chinese vocabulary, and the depicting function of Chinese
characters, word-guessing is more likely to be accurate.

On top of that, once you have reached a certain base vocabulary, this logic will make the retention of
new words easier, enabling a rapid growth of vocabulary. Having said that, if you are learning
Chinese as your first Asian language, you are effectively starting from scratch, as your previously
learnt languages won’t offer you any base to hold on to.

So, is learning Chinese (Mandarin) difficult? For a Westerner, probably yes, as it has so many
features that are unheard of in the European languages. However, is it a complex language? Not
particularly, and with the right support and a strong foundation, you can improve rapidly.

REPORT LINKS FOREIGN LANGUAGE SKILLS AND

BUSINESS SUCCESS
PREVIOUS
A European Commission report has highlighted a direct link between foreign language skills and
profitable businesses. The survey, conducted with nearly 2000 European SMEs, also indicated
genuine foreign language skills demand among their workforces.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE SKILLS DEMAND KEEP INCREASING

Misunderstandings must be avoided at all costs as they can jeopardize the

whole business winning process
Companies who set clear language strategies (such as developing the
language competency of their employees or hiring native speakers) are
getting better results than those that don’t.
The report goes on to highlight that:

 11% of EU SMEs surveyed are losing considerable amounts of money because of their lack
of language skills

 37 firms admitted they had lost contracts valued between 8 and 13.5 million Euros because
of language problems

From writing emails to drafting contracts and making phone calls, every aspect of the business and
negotiation process has to be dealt with carefully and misunderstandings must be avoided at all
costs as they can jeopardise the whole business winning process.

WHICH LINGUA FRANCA FOR WHICH GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS?

The importance of Russian when doing business in Eastern Europe or French
in African countries is not to be underestimated
This report also underlines the existence of several business lingua francas. While English is now
widely recognised as the universal language for business, the importance of Russian when doing
business in Eastern Europe or French in African countries is not to be underestimated.

The same goes for other parts of the world: Spanish speaking employees will help to create
business opportunities in Latin America while being able to speak Mandarin Chinese is an invaluable
asset for companies seeking to develop the Chinese market.

WHAT SHOULD SMES DO?

The overall economical performances of the EU could be dramatically
improved if exporting firms were able to enhance their language skills
There are several options for SMEs wishing to improve the foreign language skills of their
workforces:

 Implement a language strategy

 Develop the international competence of your workforce with language training

  Recruit native speakers

 Hire translators or interpreters

DEVELOPING YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYEES’ FOREIGN LANGUAGE SKILLS

Developing a corporate language strategy is key for any organisation that wishes to succeed
internationally and retain top talent.

The importance of mastering foreign languages will become more and more
crucial for firms wishing to be successful in the international arena
The report concludes that the overall economic performances of the EU could be dramatically
improved if exporting firms were able to enhance their foreign language skills.