When
I think about the role of the English language in my life, I often
times catch myself wondering how it’s gotten as great as it
currently is. Obviously I get exposed to it daily on the Internet,
but that’s by no means the end of it. I write in English, I
chat with my best friend in English, I talk to myself in English - I
even think
in English.
I could go as far as to say English is a second language to me, although it practically isn’t. Neither of my parents is a foreigner by origin. They were both born and raised in my dear home country, Finland. And in all honesty, their proficiency in English isn’t particularly high either.
So how, then, does the English language play so integral a part in my life as to even influence which language I think in? I can only speculate. I don’t, in fact, have any theories about it either. But I’m sure that if I were to take closer interest in the subject, I’d find more than enough answers.
Something tells me I’m not the only case of this in my circle of acquaintances either. After all, I study English in university, and my colleagues often have conversations in English. Then again, whether they think in English similarly to me or not is another question open for speculation.
I should discuss this with them. The results might be very interesting.