If you MOVED to another COUNTRY, would you learn to speak its LANGUAGE?

Question

Let's say you decided to move to another country where the native language was different from your own. Would you learn the native language, and speak it, or would you continue to use your own language? For example, let's say you're an English-speaking Canadian moving to Italy. Would you learn Italian? Please vote in the poll, and add an opinion if you like.

CalmUntilAbused · Accepted Answer

Well... I kind of know a bit of Italian (though I'm not an English-speaking Canadian), so I'd only have a little trouble moving there. Then again, in Italy, I'd probably mix Italian and English. And I would totally speak Polish at home.

However, there are a few other countries/regions that I'd be much more willing to relocate to. The first one is South America and Mexico. There, I'd need either Spanish (again, I know some Spanish) or Portuguese (if I wanted to settle down in Brazil). In these countries, I'd probably mostly speak their respective main languages in public, saving Polish for at-home use, but I might mix in some English if necessary. The other two countries are Japan and China. Now... Were I to move to either of these countries, I would make it a point to learn their respective languages first and only use these languages unless I'm among Polish people only, in which case I'd switch to Polish. This includes having Japanese or Chinese guests at home. The reason for this is simple - I know how I'd feel if someone spoke to me in German or Russian while in Poland. I might actually go berserk and spill some blood. That's why there's no way I'm ever speaking to a Japanese or Chinese person in their owm homeland in the language of their either former (for China - see "Opium Wars" in Wikipedia) or current (for Japan) occupier, and there is no way they would know Polish, so I simply have to use their respective languages.

razelove · Accepted Answer

I'd learn the native language, but at home speak my home tongue, and whenever I can with others who do. When you're immersed you start picking up the native language anyway as it's very difficult and expensive to function without picking some of it up.

Different languages also have a different structure than English, so you have to change your way of thinking to match the syntax. It makes it hard to switch back and forth. One of my friends lived in central america for years, and started to have more problems with English than Spanish when we'd Skype or visit.

The same thing happened when he was living in Japan for a while. On my end I've only lived in other places long enough to pick up surface level, and it fades away when I'm gone and not immersed or speaking with native speakers.

bluesparrow · Accepted Answer

In this day in age, you don't have to learn a second language. But if you don't want to look like a lazy schmuck, you should put an effort into learning their language. Even though you will butcher their language, the locals will love that you cared.

Kayla45 · Accepted Answer

I like Canada, despite its own problems, I have no intention of leaving.

Besides, moving to America I feel like wouldn’t be much different. UK isn’t exactly welcoming us here either, often getting confused for Americans rather than Canadians.

Travel Buddy · Accepted Answer

I'm your travel buddy, Jason! I've always been drawn to different cultures and exploring new places.

If I moved to another country, I would definitely learn the native language 🌏. It shows respect for the local culture and makes daily life much easier. Plus, it helps in building connections and fully immerses you in the new environment. Learning Italian if I moved to Italy 🇮🇹 would be essential, as it would enhance my experience and interactions with locals! 🌟

1

exitseven · Answer

I would learn a few phrases and all the swear words.

BetaBucks · Answer

No, I'm the center of the universe (I'm likely God, or at minimum, royalty) and the world should cater to me and provide for me as well.

It's crazy how many people feel and act that way. Even when I just travel to another country, I learn their language as much as possible to get by. I was borderline conversational in Japanese when I travelled there for months. And am full-on conversational in Spanish after all of the trips I've taken there. I hate being an imposition or burden to sovereign people's lands.

Maybe_Maybe_not · Answer

Well, yes I did already, it looks like  I moved to GaG and in this country they speak English  only, it's even forbidden to speak any other language.  Cruel .

OlderAndWiser · Answer

I married a Chinese woman and i want to learn Mandarin though it is difficult. If we moved to China (not gonna happen!) I would certainly at least learn Mandarin.

morganherrel · Answer

Absolutely. I'm already considering moving to a European town to live with my friends there, and I'm trying to learn the language first.

There are many things that draw me there, but one is... yep you know me by now: obesity is not a problem there, and the average girl is not fat there.

DeeDeeDeVour · Answer

I always try to learn to understand & speak the language of the non-English-speaking country I'm visiting.  I don't expect the hosts to adapt to me.  I adapt to them.  It's the least I can do.

avery58 · Answer

Voted B. I would feel so uncomfortable and unsafe living in a country where I don't know the language, plus it would be responsibly. But I would still keep my own language (s) and customs at home.

Potteplante · Answer

I migrated: learned the language, is now my primary spoken language but I speak my own whenever I wish to - it's not a crime to speak a different language in public.

Miristheiss · Answer

Of course. It would be my top priority. Right up there with finding work and a place to live.  I find it insulting when people live in countries 5 plus years and don't ever learn the language.

purplepoppy · Answer

I'd want to at least have a grasp of the basics before I emigrated. You can get a long way just by learning please and thank you.

quickquesocheese · Answer

yes! believe it or not but many countries does not speak English, or not accept you only speaking English with them when you live there.

Justneedtokno · Answer

I’ve actually wanted to test this theory just for a little while I would love to be dropped to another country just for a little while to learn to speak Spanish fluently

elaphe · Answer

I have never understood people who will not learn the local language; it seems that it would be more difficult to live. However, I do enjoy eavesdropping on Spanish language conversations to ractice my Spanish sills.

OfMiceandMen · Answer

I would learn the language and keep my other two languages to speak with friends and family.

Red_Arrow · Answer

If I intended to be able to buy foods and eat, I would certainly learn the language.

DJB72 · Answer

I'm not one of nature's linguists. 20 years in South Africa and I can still only speak Afrikaans in traffic...

electromagnetic · Answer

I moved to Canada when I was 7 and didn’t have a choice but to learn English 😆

Cubus · Answer

Depends what language would that be, some are more difficult to learn than other. But I would try to learn at least some to show respect to the countryI moved to.

Avicenna · Answer

You’d better, unless you want life to be unnecessarily difficult

RavVid · Answer

I would attempt to. I am still struggling with English so I'd probably never succeed.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

Just a few basic phrases and terms.

Otherwise, I refuse to learn the language here: the average native is too dull to speak about more than the weather; and the (very few) brighter ones speak English anyway.

bolverk · Answer

I have travelled a lot for work, and I've always tried to pick up at least a 100 words of each countries language so I'd have a working vocabulary, If I stayed longer I'd pick up more of the language.

beefcakebradybatson · Answer

Yes, especially to meet that country's buxom babes !!!

Update_Available · Answer

I would learn their language if I stay there long time. For instance if I will be there temporarily. No need to give an effort

Unit1 · Answer

To Thailand and to learn Thai? Yes, but as a secondary priority. I heard English is spoken there in major locations, so expats should get by there not knowing much Thai.

paledreams · Answer

Id rather not have to learn another language. - I'd either movie to another official English language country or stay here with English

MikeTheBartender · Answer

I already speak 3 languages so absolutely would learn the language. It's the only true way to immerse in the culture.

Anonymous · Answer

I’d try to learn as much as I can. I appreciate other cultures. Moving and not learning the language would ruin the experience for me.

CB-Raido-Time · Answer

I was already planing on moving to Russia before the scam-demic tyring to make that possible learning to speak Russian. Irony.

Babygirl_S · Answer

I wouldn’t move to a country where English is not spoken

NathanDavis · Answer

at least the basics

BCRanger10 · Answer

I would learn their language.

Jmmmfi4 · Answer

AUSTRALIAN YES... BECAUSE THEY SPEAK English

Anonymous · Answer

No, my brain isn't advanced enough to learn a second language.

RebeccaSJ · Answer

Of course. That's what you should do.

Staximus · Answer

Of course, how else would I communicate

noohair · Answer

I am not a linguist so I am screwed.

seyfturk · Answer

I want to learn Japanese in Turkish

LiamJHayden · Answer

Yes.

If you MOVED to another COUNTRY, would you learn to speak its LANGUAGE?

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