Bilinguals, or people who speak two languages fluently, often wonder what language they dream in. Dreams are mysterious experiences that can reflect our inner thoughts, worries, desires and memories. For bilinguals, the language their dreams play out in reveals information about how their two languages are stored in the brain.
Do bilinguals dream in both languages?
Research has found that bilinguals usually dream in the language they are most comfortable and dominant in. For example, someone who grew up speaking Spanish at home but learned English later in life will likely dream in Spanish most of the time.
However, some bilinguals report switching between languages within a single dream or between different dreams. So it is possible for bilinguals to dream in both of their languages.
| Language | Percentage of Dreams |
|---|---|
| Dominant Language | 70-95% |
| Second Language | 5-30% |
This table shows estimates from research on what percentage of dreams are typically in a bilingual’s dominant and secondary language. As you can see, the vast majority of dreams are in the dominant language.
Why do bilinguals usually dream in their dominant language?
There are a few reasons why a bilingual’s dreams mostly occur in their more fluent, native-like language:
- The dominant language is more deeply ingrained in the mind from childhood and daily use.
- More emotion and meaning gets attached to the dominant language.
- The dominant language has richer associations in the brain to memories, feelings and experiences that dream content is built from.
In essence, the dominant language shapes more of the foundations of the bilingual’s identity and inner world. This makes it the primary lens through which dreams take place.
When are second languages more likely to appear in dreams?
Even though dreams favor the dominant language overall, research has uncovered some patterns for when a bilingual’s secondary language is more likely to emerge in dreams:
- Right after intensive use or studying of the second language during the day, such as at school or work
- While immersed in an environment where the second language is spoken, like during foreign travel
- If the dream content is related to contexts where the second language is usually spoken
In these cases, the increased exposure and practice with the second language seems to make it more activated in the mind and accessible during dreaming.
Does the language bilinguals dream in change over time?
As a bilingual person’s proficiency and comfort with their second language grows over months or years, research shows that the proportion of dreams occurring in the second language gradually increases too.
For example, one study followed recently-arrived immigrants to Israel as they learned Hebrew. Over a two year period, the percentage of participants’ dreams that incorporated Hebrew words rose from zero to over 40%.
This suggests that as life experience starts to reshape the neural pathways related to the newer language, its prominence in dreams rises accordingly.
Factors that increase dreams in the second language
- Increased fluency and vocabulary
- Using the second language frequently in daily life
- Meaningful life events occurring in the second language, like relationships, achievements, etc.
How are languages represented in the bilingual brain?
Bilingual language representation is not completely understood, but research points to a few key findings:
- Evidence suggests both languages have at least some separate neurological representation and processing.
- However, there is also significant overlap in how the two languages are stored and activated.
- The regions activated show substantial similarities when performing tasks in each language.
- But studies show subtle differences emerge with higher proficiency and immersion in the second language.
In summary, bilingual language representation appears to involve a dynamic, intersecting set of shared and distinct neural networks that changes with experience.
Theories on bilingual language representation
- Common underlying proficiency: Both languages are stored together and managed by the same central processing system in the brain.
- Dual language system: The two languages have mostly separate representations and dedicated neural resources.
- Dynamic system: Languages are represented by distributed, overlapping networks that shift with proficiency and context.
How do bilinguals switch between languages?
Bilinguals have the remarkable ability to switch back and forth seamlessly between languages. This process relies on controlling attention and cognitive resources to allow the appropriate language to come to the forefront:
- Inhibitory control mechanisms dampen activation of the unwanted language.
- Top-down signals bias the activated language based on situational demands and speakers involved.
- The cognitive system dynamically shifts to privilege the words, sounds and grammar of the target language.
- Executive control regions like the prefrontal cortex orchestrate this neurocognitive flexibility.
Efficient language switching enables bilinguals to engage in rapid code-switching between languages within a single conversation when necessary.
Do bilinguals have different personalities in each language?
An interesting psychological phenomenon reported by some bilinguals is feeling like a slightly different “self” when they switch languages. Researchers have investigated this by comparing bilinguals’ personality traits across languages:
- Studies find bilinguals often describe their two languages reflecting dual facets of their identity and upbringing.
- But objective personality tests show mixed evidence on whether bilinguals’ traits shift across languages.
- Any changes are usually subtle shifts in emotional expression, attitudes, and sense of self.
So while bilinguals may subjectively feel different in each language, strong empirical support for large objective personality differences across languages is lacking.
Subjective Differences Between Languages Reported by Bilinguals
| Language A | Language B |
|---|---|
| More outgoing | More reserved |
| More logical | More emotional |
| More work-oriented | More family-oriented |
This table summarizes some subjective differences in personality bilinguals often self-report feeling between their two languages. However, objective measurement of these traits reveals less pronounced differences.
Conclusion
In summary, for bilinguals, dreams offer a window into how languages are represented and processed in the brain. Dreams occur predominantly in the dominant language due to its deeper engraining in neural pathways and emotional associations. But the secondary language can emerge in dreams under the right contexts and its presence grows as proficiency develops. While bilinguals may subjectively view themselves as slightly different personalities in each language, robust evidence for objective differences remains limited. Exploring bilingual dreaming and processing can reveal fascinating insights about the flexibility and complexity of the bilingual brain.