Language and Emotion

After we started talking about code switching in class and why people do it, I started to think about code switching in my own life. In class, we discussed that people code switch for reasons such as to fit in or say something in secret. I have done this myself, gossiping in Polish with my friend Kristina so my other friends wouldn't hear. But what I found most interested in our class discussion is that  people code switch to portray different emotions, which was stated in Greene's book. I never thought of this idea and have since began to notice it my life in relation to my parents and speaking Polish.

There is a deep connection between language, emotion, and culture. The Polish language is very harsh and heavy, leading to a group of people that sound angry and are portrayed as not very affectionate people. I have come to this conclusion myself and I see these traits and emotions in my parents. Whenever my mom is yelling at me, she screams in Polish and often uses words that I don't understand. She often calls me a "potwór", which means monster in English. However, when my mother is caring and tells me how she loves me, she speaks in English. Just a couple days ago, she Facetimed me and started speaking English. I was surprised, as we always have our conversation in Polish. She started complementing me and telling me how grateful she is for me, which doesn't happen that often. The reason she chose to speak English is because it is a more flowing and loving language than Polish and often English parents are more affectionate, so my mother chooses to say phrases like "I love you" and "I'm proud of you" in English. My mother connects the English language and culture to love and the Polish language to order and strict behavior, which is why she wouldn't yell at me in English. Although it isn't always clear as to why certain people code switch, it is interesting to hear it and notice if there are any connections between their language choice and their culture and emotional behavior.