When someone switches from using one language to another, their personality changes, the way they see the world around them, but also themselves. This is shown by several studies, and experts emphasize that it is "not always a bad thing".

– Have you ever wondered if the language you use affects how you see the world? Numerous studies in psycholinguistics, cognitive psychology, and linguistic anthropology indicate that this is true. Languages ​​not only allow us to communicate – they shape our perception of the world around us and ourselves – say Mary Mar Boylos Pereira, professor at the University of the Basque Country and Ana Blanco Canales, professor at the University of Alcala, for "Conversation" (The Conversation).

More than half of the world's population uses two or more languages ​​on a daily basis, they added. The reasons for that can be education, migration, culture, globalization... That's why the question arises whether knowing two or more languages ​​changes the way we process feelings.

- Recent research shows that each language leads to a different perception of reality by those who speak it and that they can notice a change in themselves when they switch from one language to another. Other studies have shown that bilingual people can behave differently in relation to the language they speak, the authors said.

Multilinguals process words that describe feelings differently depending on whether they use their mother tongue, which is learned in childhood and dominates thought and speech, or another language, which is learned later.

- Some studies have shown that people describe childhood memories more vividly if they speak in their native language, because that is the language in which they label and remember these experiences. A second language, on the other hand, offers a certain amount of emotional distance, allowing the speaker to feel less fear or embarrassment when speaking up in complex situations, expressing anger, or apologizing. The mother tongue is perceived as a more emotional language, while the latter is less expressive but more practical. This means that the emotional expression of the mother tongue is felt more intensely, regardless of whether the emotion is positive or negative - the authors state.

The choice of language in which people communicate, Pereira and Canales add, affects not only the intensity of feelings, but also the way they perceive themselves and others. The use of one or another language can influence the construction of the discourse and reveal cultural and social aspects that are specific to the language communities to which they belong.

– 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 of language and the human mind, but also helps us improve cross-cultural communication and emotional understanding in an increasingly diverse and connected world. The student's attitude towards the language being learned is decisive. It affects how we evaluate our experiences with language, which in turn affects how we face challenges, how we perceive ourselves and how we think others see us - the authors said.