Can all bilingual people think in 2 different languages?

Question

I'm bilingual, English and Portuguese, and I find I can think in either one, depending on what I'm doing. So how common is this in bilingual people? Can all bilingual people do this?

Answer 1

Well, im 15 and bilingual, persian adn english, i think things in both languages and its like second nature, depending on what im thinking about is, for example, if im frustrated cursing at people in my head, its usualy a mixture of all i can think of!! if its in school, in the subject english for example, my brain is in english form, if however im learning spanish*studying at GCSE level* i link whatever i find easiest and so on, some areas like maths, i think in persian coz its simpler unraveling numbers!!!

hope this helps, ooh and btw, my bros bilingual but his english is stronger and he finds it difficult to think in persian, he thinks stuff out in englisha dn then translates word for word so just like an internet translator, some of what he says comes out funny, you should know hes 11 and has lived in england for over 8 years!!!

my mum adn dad however who sepnt most of their lives in iran think only in persian and then change to fit the circumstances, my dad a mechanical engeneering and some fracture thingy lecturer thinks in perian, drafts in englisha dn presents in whatever language is required.
i know these coz i just asked!! hope this helpes!!!

Answer 2

I know this is a common thing with me, I'm bilingual in Spanish & English. I didn't realize I was doing it, until someone asked me the same question. It also depends on the situation I'm in, or the people I'm around, whether I'm thinking in Spanish or English. But, yeah, I think it's pretty cool!

Answer 3

I'm bilingual and yes, I think that it is common for bilingual people to think in either language. Although, I find that it is easier for me to think in my native language than in the second language I learned.
Maybe, some people can think in either language more easily than others. I think that it has to do with how well a person knows each language.

Answer 4

I can speak some Japanese, when I use it I think in Japanese, when I use English I think in English. That is why some folks are bilingual the brain doesn't have to translate before the answer is there

Answer 5

I'm bilingual, English and Italian and I can think in either one.

Answer 6

yes, I'm bilingual, English and Spanish and I think in both

Answer 7

Well, that depends on how fluent you actually are. But, the real proof that you are completely billingual is when you can dream in both languages!!!
I'm portuguese and I'm fluent in English and yes, sometimes, I dream in English... Actually I find it quite weird...

Answer 8

Im bilingual! English and Spanish! And yea I kan think both wayz! Its nothing new or complicated!

Answer 9

I think it's pretty likely. I'm in Spanish 3 and I find myself thinking in Spanish from time to time. So for those that are fluent in two languages I'd say it's highly probable that they all can think it both languages.

Answer 10

if you think about it for a moment: to have a casual conversation you would almost have to be able to speak in the target language (whatever that is). a conversation changes direction too fast for anybody to be able to succeed at one if they are constantly mentally translating.

i speak english and french fairly fluently - when i am speaking in either i am thinking in that language too.

but i also have a basic survival level in welsh (my partner's first language). sometimes when i am talking in welsh i find myself searching to express an idea that i don't know enough welsh to manage with. i can feel myself switch from thinking in welsh to thinking in english and translating.

it's a rather unpleasant feeling: sort of a metaphysical intense giddiness. i wouldn't recommend it.