Do we think more clearly in a second language?

Some thoughts on emotions, rationality and language.

We’re all emotionally attached to our mother tongue. You can test it by dropping a heavy object on your foot—what language would you swear in?

In her brilliant book The Power of Language: Multilingualism, Self, and Society, Viorica Marian discusses the differences between first and second language use. It turns out that we do have a stronger emotional attachment to our first language, as it is fundamentally linked with our identity, culture, and early emotional experiences—much more so than a second or third language, especially if they were acquired later in life.

It got me thinking: could we possibly behave more rationally if we used a second language as a tool? I asked my friend ChatGPT (not the best way to do research!) and here is what it came up with:

Research indicates that speaking in a second language can lead to more rational and less emotionally charged decisions, particularly in situations involving moral or financial choices. This can be attributed to the emotional distance from the language, reduced emotional bias, and increased cognitive load. However, the extent of this effect can vary depending on the individual, the context in which the language is used, and how fluent the person is in the second language.

It’s really interesting to think about in connection with the media content we consume, and the way we get triggered, manipulated, and taken advantage of by the authors. Is it at all possible that reading or watching such content in a second language might make you immune (or at least less susceptible) to manipulation?

If you ever find yourself getting anxious or outraged while consuming online content, try switching the code—does your reaction change when you use a different language (as long as your level of mastery is high enough to understand what you are reading or watching)?

You could go even further and switch to your second language in situations where you need to be level-headed. What if you used it to rationalise an important choice, say, by making a list of arguments for and against? Have you tried journaling, reflecting, or even planning your day in a different language? Would it affect the end result?

I like to think that learning a second language doesn’t just provide an extra tool for communication—it could also shield you from rage bait online, help you organise your thoughts, and make you act less impulsively.

These are only ideas, though—test them to see if there’s any truth!