That's fascinating, Reens. How interesting that you actually noticed the difference in how you could tune your ear in holland vs. rest of world.
I have had other friends mention that after living in a foreign country (where they did not speak to language initially), upon coming home or to an English-speaking country they actually found it overwhelming to sit in a cafe or busy public space. Their ear kept grabbing onto every snippet around them and had forgotten how to edit out irrelevant conversations.
My goodness, what a multilingual home you live in, btw. I struggle enough with English.
I have that problem too, but it has nothing to do with language. I just have trouble hearing and following in a noisy background environment.
I get bits and pieces of conversation and I really have to tax my brain to make a connection. I'm much better in a quiet one-on-one setting or writing.
Deek - general noise does make it worse. I thought it was just a lazy brain or something - but it really is hard work for the brain! Especially at parties - brain says too much, and communication shuts down. Took me a long time to realise too - that I wasn't great at parties for that reason rather than being an antisocial bastard ;-)
That's fascinating, Reens. How interesting that you actually noticed the difference in how you could tune your ear in holland vs. rest of world.
ReplyDeleteI have had other friends mention that after living in a foreign country (where they did not speak to language initially), upon coming home or to an English-speaking country they actually found it overwhelming to sit in a cafe or busy public space. Their ear kept grabbing onto every snippet around them and had forgotten how to edit out irrelevant conversations.
My goodness, what a multilingual home you live in, btw. I struggle enough with English.
x K
I have that problem too, but it has nothing to do with language. I just have trouble hearing and following in a noisy background environment.
ReplyDeleteI get bits and pieces of conversation and I really have to tax my brain to make a connection. I'm much better in a quiet one-on-one setting or writing.
Deek - general noise does make it worse. I thought it was just a lazy brain or something - but it really is hard work for the brain! Especially at parties - brain says too much, and communication shuts down. Took me a long time to realise too - that I wasn't great at parties for that reason rather than being an antisocial bastard ;-)
ReplyDeleteKatie - you should come for dinner some time!