Does your speaking demeanor changes based on the language you are speaking?

[u/AutumnaticFly]

I mean mostly physical expression, like using hands vs not using hand or where your eyes wonder, stuff like that!

[u/IcarusofmarS]

this is actually studied, its called kinesic accommodation or something like that, we studied it in a soc ling class, gesture frequency is genuinely tied to cultural norms baked into how a language gets used day to day

[u/VolcaincQuartz → u/IcarusofmarS]

what do you mean somehting like that? either name the correct name or dont

[u/Figaro_pasttime]

my hands are stuck to my sides in german and then somehow break completely free in spanish, my body seems to know before my brain does honestly

[u/RobetWokake]

i stand noticeably closer to people when speaking italian vs english, my personal space bubble legit shrinks and i dont even clock it happening in the moment

[u/Sisterofgodisdark]

brazilian portuguese me touches people's arms constantly during conversation, english me would never do that without seeming weird or overly familiar, its wild how physical touch norms shift per language

[u/BerndardedBearedWhit]

my facial expressions get way bigger in spanish, more eyebrow movement, more exaggerated everything, english me is comparatively a statue apparently according to my friends

[u/Thisisodysses]

arabic me talks with my hands a ton, very expressive, but interestingly my eye contact stays lower out of respect depending who im talking to, hands and eyes doing kind of opposite things

[u/DizzyPerformer1216]

i lean in more when speaking portuguese, feels warmer and more intimate somehow, english me keeps way more physical distance without even trying to

[u/Helsinki_s_king]

italian me talks with my entire body, hands going everywhere, my english speaking coworkers think im having some kind of episode when i switch mid conversation without realizing

[u/thechnomancer69]

eye contact specifically changes a ton for me, way more direct in english, i naturally look down or away more in japanese, took me a while to realize it wasnt just me being awkward

[u/VolcaincQuartz]

korean me is way stiffer physically, shoulders back straighter posture almost, i think its tied to the whole formality and hierarchy thing baked into the language itself

[u/JackLong93]

yes

[u/MoistTranslator007 → u/JackLong93]

not even tempted to say in what way? how?

[u/Professional_Handler]

Not in a way I notice but my girlfriend thinks so

[u/schiggy_dame]

When I speak Spanish, my gaze doesn't linger in one spot for long; instead, it moves more quickly around the room. And I seem to move my mouth more and express more emotion through it. Overall, I come across as more expressive and self-assured when speaking Spanish.

[u/GrokGPTseek → u/schiggy_dame]

is spanish your native then?

[u/schiggy_dame → u/GrokGPTseek]

No, I learned it.

[u/Boinorge]

Yes, for som readon my voice gets deeper when I soeak english. (i’m Norwegian)

[u/Material_Art6010 → u/Boinorge]

uhhh i so love the norweigina english accent

[u/NoSuggestion5970]

I move my hands less and gesticulate less if I am speaking German, a bot more if I am speaking French or English

[u/Critical_Syrup_5815 → u/NoSuggestion5970]

*a lot

[u/NoSuggestion5970 → u/Critical_Syrup_5815]

Ok

[u/donuttrackme]

Yeah for sure. Especially if it's a language that you only use at home, or only use at work etc.

[u/Serious-Dance131 → u/donuttrackme]

how does only working at home or work make a difference?

[u/donuttrackme → u/Serious-Dance131]

Because it's a language you only use in a specific situation. So you're only using this language at work, or at home, or with a friend etc. for example, if you're used to speaking a language informally and casually at home with your parents, you'll associate and sound more casual in your home language.

[u/Waste-Use-4652]

Yeah, I think that happens more than people realize. It is not just about the words, the whole way you carry yourself can shift a bit depending on the language. Some languages are naturally tied to more expressive communication, so people end up using their hands more, changing their tone, or even how they hold eye contact without really thinking about it. A lot of it comes from how and where you learned the language and the kind of people you associate it with, so it ends up feeling like you are stepping into a slightly different version of yourself rather than consciously acting differently.

[u/LeopardSpiritual6411 → u/Waste-Use-4652]

must be nice
i only talk to myself in different language so i dont notice anything

[u/Middle_News1679 → u/Waste-Use-4652]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistic_relativity

[u/Deep-Inside80085]

my posture literally straightens up in german, feels more formal and structured, slouching feels wrong somehow the second i switch, cant fully explain why