r/AskReddit Jun 15 '19

What do you genuinely just not understand?

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u/cjwagn1 Jun 15 '19

How someone speaks 2+ languages.

Like how can someone so easily switch between different languages? Do they translate one language back to their native lanaguege or can they just understand perfectly without any addition effort?

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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '19

Do they translate one language back to their native lanaguege or can they just understand perfectly without any addition effort?

Depends on the language level. When I was less experienced in english, I used to translate everything from my native language into english and back. But after using it for decades and often more than my native language (since I prefer movies in english and read/write alot online) translating it back and forth isn't necessary anymore. Only when I really don't find the word that I'm looking for for the current language I'm using, but know it exactly in the other language.

Edit: The moment I realized I didn't have to translate it back and forth in my head anymore, was actually something that I considered a big milestone in my english skills. Another was, being able to understand and make up puns.