When I was sitting hearing the idea that language affects the way that we think I was very intrigued. Language has always been an interest of mine right along with psychology. Perhaps language does not shape us to our core, it won’t determine whether one is sane or insane for instance, but I certainly believe the language one speaks helps in the development of who that person is as an individual.

 A talking point created by BBC showed that I am not the only one who holds this opinion. Many people from South Asia felt much closer to the languages of their ancestors, they felt as if an emotional void was filled and one person noted that English is in itself a very cold and self-centered language.

 Language not only affects the way we perceive ourselves in a sense it affects the way others perceive us. The perception of English, a Germanic language, as cold and self-centered came across as interesting to me because of the connotations people hold about the British, Germans, and even Americans. These societies are often seen as being cold and self-centered to the point that even the language can appear to lack emotional depth to some people.

 I speak two Romance languages, Spanish and my native tongue Romanian. I come across as fun, kind, and much to my dismay a bit of a flirt. Is this because I am truly flirting with everyone who has a pulse or is this because the language I speak, the way I pronounce words and verbally express myself reflects the stereotype of the “Latin Lover”?

 Obviously not all South Asians are endlessly deep, not all Spanish and Romanians are nymphomaniacs, and not all Germans/Anglos are distant and egomaniacal. These are simply perceptions based not only on stereotypes of actions but on the languages spoken by the people. Different languages use different vocabulary and express things in very different ways. Of course so do people. It is not though language alone that we display our personality but through the subtle gestures with hands and face, the intonation of our voices, and even the way one presents oneself. So does our language shape us or do we shape our language?