Do non-native speakers of any language think in the non-native language?

[The Kaeya Simp 13,988]

the title must explain it mostly enough...

but if you are fluent (or near fluent) in a forigen language do you think in it?

[RDDash 19,182]

Well it's sort of a mixture of the two languages with me. English is the second language, and my thought process goes with that language as well but I sometimes mix words from time to time.

Edited December 13, 2018 by R.D.Dash

[Kevin Tang 2,426]

It is mixed, I sometimes think in English and the other time I think in Indonesian

[Jeric 46,851]

Depending on the aptitude, exposure, and usage regularity of languages it should be somewhat fluid. We actually think in inner speech, images, sensory perception, emotions, and even unsymbolized thought unrelated to feeling and sensory perception. We switch between these and layer these so often that we don’t always realize it. 

Cool stuff. 

[Catpone Cerberus 23,599]

I'm a Finn and I think in English. I'm not sure which one I think in more, Finnish or English, but there is times when I not only think in English, but also speak fully in English with my Finn friend. 

Edited December 13, 2018 by Catpone Cerberus

[碇 シンジン 27,431]

Some English words are better in describing some feelings than some Finnish words for me same goes with Japanese and other languages  What i am saying is that different languages have different approaches into different situations and how they are phrased. so its pretty much mix and match for me atleast.

[Swit Swat 536]

My first language was Spanish, but I was born and raised in the United States. Because of this, I tend to think in English about 90% of the time. More than likely, my thoughts will be in Spanish if I am currently speaking Spanish or am going to interact with a Spanish speaking individual.

[DubWolf 17,263]

I mean I could think in Spanish but I always just think in English  .

[Tacodidra 61,178]

Pretty often actually (with English being the non-native language). For example, writing here on the forums, I don't have to think about the posts in my native language (Finnish) – I immediately think about the English words and phrases I'm about to write. And on some subjects, I do essentially all thinking in English – MLP obviously being one, as I always watch it in English. I've also noticed more and more often that I can't think of some words in Finnish, instead just remembering the English equivalent. I guess that's the inevitable result of knowing more than one language...

[Catpone Cerberus 23,599]

11 hours ago, Tacodidra said:

I've also noticed more and more often that I can't think of some words in Finnish, instead just remembering the English equivalent. I guess that's the inevitable result of knowing more than one language...

This. 

It's particularly noticeable when one's talking with someone you know doesn't understand English, because you need to give the conscious effort to avoid English  

[IronM17 5,376]

I only think in english when I want to write or say something in english, otherwise, I always think in german.

[Rikifive 24,189]

My native language is Polish and it is mixed for me.

I usually 'think' in Polish, but pretty often it happens to be English.

I also tend to randomly say something in English, but now that depends on the situation and people I'm talking with.

It's mainly because I like English language, even more than my native one. --- and even though I'm not really good at English. 

 

Also in thoughts, your grammar and things like this are always perfect even if these actually are really bad.  

Edited December 20, 2018 by Rikifive

[Guest]

I guess you could say both. Sometimes I mix words between languages because Latvian and English do share some articles and sentence structure and sometimes I just forget words in English so I just throw words in the Latvian or Lithuanian ekvivalents and work it out that way. Google has to constantly remind me of some vocabulary. Is why I much prefer to type than speak to people in English.

[Hardway Bet 96]

I think in English quite often.

[Cherry Pop 15]

My friend says that her friend thinks in English because it's faster. I can't quite recall his native language, though.

[Moony the Cat 3,702]

Despite the fact that im german, i actually think in english mostly now, probably because of all the Super Hero Shows i watched in english.

[Mellow Mane 5,931]

I think in a mix of mostly Dutch and Chinese (Mandarin). Dutch is my native language and I grew up with Chinese as well (I learned it from my friend's mother since I was really young, I'm not Chinese myself though). I never think in English even though I speak it fluently.

[CameoShadowness 251]

As a nonnative and horible spanish speaker- yes it happened a few times and confused the crap out of me.

[Darksword66 230]

I learned both French and English at the same time. So for me the languages interchange. However, i was only taught french until grade 5 where i was put into English. But if i'm talking to someone in french, i will think in french, if i speak to people in English i think in English. XD I dunno it's weird. Though most interactions have been in English so i tend to forget some french. But it's funny that i still think in french when i speak it. XD

[Jesse Terrence 2,968]

It depends. Most of the time I try to only think on english when around these forums, but it can get weird when people around is talking and you kind of have to switch in between.

Then there are words one can't recall in one language but on the other, and then you go like "wait, I can look it up on a translator!"

[The Kaeya Simp 13,988]

Wow, I can actually answer my own thread xD

I (despite being quite poor at Dutch) think quite a lot in Dutch first for some reason (and probably a sign of more to happen I already struggle to remember the word "Dutch", I often nearly accidentally type "Nederlands(e)")

[Splashee 28,564]

Yes, I started thinking completely in English while I visited the US

[ExplosionMare 18,062]

Sometimes while I was learning French I would think in French, but only certain phrases

[Splashee 28,564]

8 hours ago, ExplosionMare said:

Sometimes while I was learning French I would think in French, but only certain phrases

Wow. That is quite difficult 

[Bastian 13,319]

I think in English and think out loud in English as well most of the time. 

Hell Im even doing it right now jesus.