Why Do People Dislike Their Own Language?

Language plays an integral part in both communication and culture. It can unify or break people apart. But while most people worldwide embrace their native language and feel more comfortable using it, some people actually dislike their own native language. Why does it happen? Are you alone in this thing? Let’s talk about it.

Language in culture

Noam Chomsky said, “A language is not just words. It’s a culture, a tradition, a unification of a community, a whole history that creates what a community is. It’s all embodied in a language.”

Language is one of the important parts and is intrinsic to the expression of our culture and individuals. Through this, we express our values, beliefs, and traditions. It has an important social function in someone’s identity.

Language in communication

Language is the main aspect or a prime tool of communication. It is our way of communicating with other people, building long-lasting relationships, and being part of the community. It helps us convey our thoughts, feelings, and emotions. It is also used to transfer information from one person to another. In the book The Four Agreements, the author gives an excellent account of how important and meaningful the words we say are. Therefore, we must use our words wisely and do the best we can to express ourselves in the best possible way.

But here’s the thing. Despite being one of the most important parts of the culture, why do some people actually dislike their own language? I listed below the reasons why; these are from my perspective and also according to what I’ve heard and read online.

Reasons why some people dislike their own language

Here are some of the key reasons why people are fade up with their native language:

Their language bores them

There are people who want variation. And the idea of them speaking their own language during their entire life brings boredom. They don’t see room for them to grow because they feel like being bound to only speak their own language. For them, the only way to break that boredom is to learn and speak other languages.

Their language is unfamiliar

There are more than 7,100 languages spoken all over the world; each is unique in different ways.

English is the most spoken language in the world, and Mandarin lands in the second spot. English is a universal language, as they say, and those who are able to speak it have an edge when it comes to job opportunities, etc. And when it comes to business, you might have to learn how to speak Mandarin if you want to become successful. Now, if your native is not on the top list, you will eventually start to dislike it. You would feel like you will never be able to build a successful career. The thought of having fewer people speaking your language means your language is not likable.

They are influenced

Influence plays a big factor in someone disliking his/her own language. The movies you are fond of watching, for example, make you feel like your language is not interesting at all, and you start liking other languages. The more you get interested in their language, the more you want to learn how to speak it, and you’ll start disliking your own.

It creates barrier

Let’s say, for example, you went on a vacation to another country where people speak a language that is totally different from yours. You will never be able to have a connection with them because you cannot communicate. There is a barrier. Automatically, there is no communication at all.  I just can’t imagine the frustration of being unable to understand what they were saying. If you cannot speak or understand their language, you will definitely feel left out and disconnected.

Discrimination

There are some people who dislike and make fun of other people’s language. It sounds rude and disrespectful, yes. This is one serious reason why certain people dislike their own language. It could be their accent or the tone as they speak their language. Other people may have experienced being degraded because of their language and that is seriously heartbreaking. Because they have been humiliated or discriminated against, they end up disliking their own language.

It does not express what they want to communicate

Ironically, there really are times when you cannot express what you want to communicate in your own language. And that itself is frustrating. I, for one, am not exempt from this. There are words that I cannot convey to others using my own language to the point that I use another language for them to understand what I was trying to imply.

Some people who dislike their own language learn other languages as a way to compete with others, be able to communicate with others, build relationships with other groups, build a successful career, and engage with a broader scope of communities. But, how does speaking another language change their mindset or the way they are able to express themselves?

• Since language is one of the important parts of culture, learning another language makes us understand and respect their culture as well. When you learn how to speak their language, you are also learning their culture as well. By learning them, you develop respect and understanding towards other people.
• By learning another language, you are able to see the world differently. You become aware and able to address issues from different perspectives.
• Learning another language boosts one’s confidence. People become confident when they can communicate with other people who speak different languages and are able to build relationships with them.

Conclusion

Every language has its own beauty and unique sound. Embracing your own language strengthens the identity of your culture. Though we are taught to embrace our own, disliking it doesn’t mean you forsake your own language and culture. That is not always the case. We have to cancel that mentality. People have their reasons for dislike of it. And some of the reasons are not because of the language itself, but it’s the reaction and comments they have been receiving that led them to dislike it. Who knows? We might be one of the reasons why they dislike their own language.

Speaking another language doesn’t mean you are arrogant or trying hard to convert yourself into another race, but you are just open to embracing, accepting, understanding, and respecting other people’s cultures, which is a good thing. Learning another language helps you see a broader horizon and gives you continuous learning.

We have to remember that not everyone likes the same thing as you do. We live in a diverse world where there have to be differences.