My friends speak Dutch and for a while. I’ve been trying to learn Dutch. We can text in Dutch (very casually) and when they speak to me in Dutch I am able to understand what they are saying (or at least pick it apart to understand generally what they are saying) . but when it comes to me trying to say Dutch words or speak Dutch my brain all of a sudden has no memory of everything I’ve learned.
I have a friend also whos mom speaks Portuguese and he understands her completely but he responds in English and doesn’t really speak Portuguese himself?
Why does this happen??
In: 9
Speaking, writing and listening (understanding) are all different processes in our brains.
Writing and reading works with our capacity of understanding visual signs. Being visual animals, we are quite good at recognizing patterns. Repeating them, specially in our digital age, is much easier.
Listening is about interpreting sounds to make a meaningful message. Since we are always using that to receive feedback from the world, it comes more easily. By listening to another language, you get used to the sounds, which explains the friend responding in a different language.
Speaking depends on forethought, since you have to choose the words before speaking, then try to mimic the sounds, both with unfamiliar logic.
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