Is someone is completely bilingual... what language do they think in?

Question

I used to have a girlfriend from Russia. She lived in the US for seven years and taught herself English all by herself.
When I asked her this.... she didn't have an answer for me.

Answer 1

I think it depends on the individual. I speak English and French, when I was studying French and reached a level of comfortable fluency, I thought alot in French and even dreamed in it. Now I am studying Chinese, and I don't think stream-of-consciousness thoughts in it, but when I see certain things or objects, the Chinese word for it will pop into my head, uninvited. Weird, too, now I mix up the Chinese with the French, not uncommon to mix two languages like that when one is an Asian language you are studying.

Answer 2

I am bilingual, I speak, read & write both English & Spanish.

My parents taught me Spanish first; I learned English as a little kid in Kindergarten & 1st Grade, English is the primary language that I process thoughts in. It's the language I use most often so all my thoughts, even when I speak Spanish, are in English.

I can't speak for other people, but my guess is you think in your primary language. In my case, that's English.

I'd venture to say that your ex-girlfriend still thought in Russian since that was her primary/original language.

Answer 3

For me, it took possibly 5 years to be fluent in my 2d language, yet it incredibly is by technique of the fact my in basic terms exposure to it became in college. My third and fourth languages have been lots much less difficult to p.c.. up, because of the fact i became in a topic the place i became compelled to learn them so as to get by ability of. The 5th language became a sprint greater problematic, and that i nevertheless do no longer likely ever think of in that language. For the others, my concepts are many times intermingled, yet frequently they're interior the commonplace language i'm using in my each and on a daily basis existence. I communicate 5 languages. My maternal language is English. I discovered my following few languages interior of right here order: French, Spanish, Arabic, Korean. of course, I certainly have constantly been fascinated in reading languages, ever on account that i became a baby.

Answer 4

Well..usually the first language they spoke or the language that was used more at home..in this case your girlfriend spoke Russian before English so I guess she would think in Russian.. I am bilingual..french/English but we spoke more english than french, so its english for me.

Answer 5

I am not completely bilingual but I do have a good understanding of Latin as well as being fluent in English, and I think in English most of the time, but sometimes I think in Latin, too. Mostly simple sentences for Latin, and when spurred by seeing something related to Latin/Rome.

Answer 6

Depends on what language she's currently using...or used to using. Certain phrases and expressions can only be said in one language, thus it is thought in that language. A bilingual person will think in his/her primary language (the one he/she learned first).

Answer 7

I can tell you what the one person I asked this question answered.

"When I think about home things, I think in Spanish; when I think about work things, I think in English."

So, the language that she was used to using in different contexts.

Cool question!

Answer 8

The Brain is the best computer on earth, you ask a question such as this ,
would her thoughts be in Russian or English?
I speak four different languages when i have a problem i think in my original language . and speak in the language the question was asked in.

Answer 9

Hey. I am fluent in French and in English. English was my first language and I did all my schooling in French. I think in English when I'm in an anglish environment (my home, with my friends) and I think in French when I'm in a french environment (school, homework ect). Also, I something dream in French and other times in English.

Answer 10

Both! At different times