Stop Translating, Start Thinking

Ever catch yourself translating everything back into English (or Spanish) before it makes sense? It feels safe, but it’s also the biggest thing slowing you down. Real fluency starts the moment you let go of that crutch and let your brain stay in the target language.

That’s why this week’s tip is all about training yourself to think differently — even when you don’t know all the words yet.

Think in your target language — even with the words you don’t know.

Instead of translating everything back to English (or Spanish), train your brain to stay in the target language. When you don’t know a word, describe it using the words you do know. For example, if you’re learning German and don’t know the word for “gloves,” say “Dinge für die Hände, wenn es kalt ist” (“things for the hands when it’s cold”).

Why it works:

This simple shift forces your brain into “language mode” and builds the muscle you’ll actually need in real conversations.

Word: دل (del)
Pronunciation: del (like “dell”)
Literal meaning: “heart”
Extended meaning: del isn’t just the physical heart: it represents emotions, courage, affection, longing, and even one’s innermost being.

Why it’s special:
Farsi often uses del in poetic and everyday expressions to describe feelings that English can’t capture with one word. For example:

The richness of del shows how Persian culture ties the heart not just to love, but to the entire spectrum of human experience.

Linguistics is the scientific study of language. Not just learning to speak one, but uncovering how languages work. It asks questions like:

At its core, linguistics breaks down into key branches:

Because knowing the “science behind the scenes” makes learning smarter. You start to see patterns across languages, understand why rules exist, and even predict how words or sentences should behave. Instead of memorising lists, you’re learning how language functions.

App Recommendation: Active Immersion Journal

In Mandarin Chinese, the word for “crisis” (危机 wēijī) is often said to combine “danger” (wēi) and “opportunity” (jī). While linguists point out it’s a bit more nuanced than that, the idea has stuck around because it shows how differently languages frame the world.

To a Chinese speaker, jī can mean a turning point, a moment of change — not just “opportunity” in the Western sense. So every crisis isn’t only a problem; it’s also a chance for transformation.

In Japan, slurping your noodles loudly isn’t rude: it’s a compliment. The louder the slurp, the more you’re showing the chef that you’re enjoying the food.

For many Westerners, where table manners usually mean “be as quiet as possible,” it can feel shocking the first time you sit in a ramen shop and hear the entire room slurping in unison. But in Japanese culture, that sound is music — proof that the dish is delicious.

So next time you’re in Tokyo, don’t hold back. Slurp away, it’s basically saying “thank you, this is amazing.”

The language with the largest sound inventory is !Xóõ, spoken in Botswana and Namibia. It has over 100 distinct consonants (including more than 80 different click sounds).

By comparison, English has about 24 consonant sounds. Imagine needing not just “t” and “d,” but dozens of variations of clicks, pops, and hisses to get your words right. 🤯

It shows just how wildly diverse human languages can be — what feels “impossible” in one tongue is totally normal in another.

What’s your favourite example of how language reflects culture? Share your thoughts with our community on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.