Is English a friendlier language? Are you instantly a more polite, laid back person when you speak English, regardless of whether it’s your native tongue or not? This is a question friends and I have pondered many times, especially in the company of non-native English speakers.
I hear it often that many people from Europe comment on how much nicer people from English-speaking countries naturally are, especially around perfect strangers. Friendliness just comes naturally for us. How is it, though, that you hear the same generalization made about Australians, Americans and the English (obviously there are more countries that speak English natively) despite the vast distances that separate them? Sure, we share a few of the same TV shows, but of the few we share, the rest of the world watches them, too. So it’s not perhaps not pop culture. Could it be the language, though?
I’ve personally noticed myself that individuals that don’t speak English as their mother tongue instantly become a bit more open, a bit friendlier when they speak English. It’s weird. Perhaps I’m just forcing myself to see it, but I don’t think so. I see it all the time. Then when the individual switches back to their native language, they close up a bit more.
It’s not really a huge surprise when you give it some thought, though. English as a language started as a slang, a language among the poor. Maybe you could even go so far as to call it the Ebonics of the Middle Ages? I’m no linguist, though, so don’t listen to me.
What do you think? If English isn’t your first language, do you find yourself more relaxed when you speak it? Hopefully I can get some comments on this blog entry, I do love engaging with my readers and when my readers engage each other.
Tweet