When it comes to what proportion of people speak more than one language, estimates vary but the general consensus is that at least half of the world’s population do so. If you're bilingual, you may well have encountered a fascinating phenomenon: that a new personality seems to emerge when you switch languages.

In March 2017, Quartz ran an article on the subject, written by Nicola Prentis. Prentis included accounts from a number of multilingual people, including Margarita, a Russian-American immigrant who fled the Soviet Union to escape anti-Semitism at the age of 19. Margarita revealed that when she speaks Russian, she feels 'guarded, reserved and uncomfortable.'

How is it possible? And are we necessarily more at ease in our own native language? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

First Broadcast: 4/2/2024

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