Defining “fluency” itself is a task that seems tricky, and while it is the ultimate goal every language learner yearns to achieve, most don’t realize how fluent they’ve become until after someone points it out. So, when are you fluent in a language?
Linguists generally agree that foreign-language fluency is achieved when linguistic processing switches from controlled to automatic. This simply means that fluency of a language is attained when speaking and understanding that language is automatic and effortless. Your search-engine results probably progress from ‘how to speak a language fluently’ to ‘French idioms for everyday situations’. From pausing before pronouncing every word to forming complete sentences, a language learner’s journey to fluency is definitely a marvelous one. But, how do you know if you’re fluent in a language?
Check out these 7 excellent tell-tale signs to know if you speak a foreign language fluently!
#1 Speaking the language While Multitasking
For many non-native speakers, the ability to speak a foreign language requires the use of all your cognitive resources. Between grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation, your brain simply doesn’t have space to allocate to other things, like eating or listening to music. Therefore, this is an excellent indication of language fluency, because speaking the language while also performing other tasks clearly displays automatic processing of the language. This may also be the reason why bilinguals consistently outperform monolinguals at multitasking.
#2 Eavesdropping is easy!
Following a conversation between two strangers in a language that is not your first language can actually be harder than it seems. You must establish a context, fill in any missing information, and acquaint yourself with the unfamiliar voices and linguistic mannerisms of strangers, all of which need rapid processing of a lot of information. Being able to eavesdrop therefore is a true milestone, though it may be a bad habit to develop, and not for us to debate the ethics of it.
#3 You don’t always “register” the language
An exciting milestone, it can really be a thrill when you catch yourself several paragraphs into a text to realize that you have not actively registered which language the content is in, but are just happily reading away. This shows that you can easily switch between your mother tongue and another language and are processing the information subconsciously.
#4 You are aware of the mistakes you make
Nobody speaks a language with perfect grammar and doing so cannot be considered a mark of fluency. True fluency in a foreign language can be indicated if you catch yourself making a mistake and correcting yourself, often at the moment. In the same way, not knowing a word but being able to communicate your thoughts regardless using other words is also an indication of fluency – for example, if you cannot say ‘trunk’ but you can say ‘the long thing in front of an elephant’s head’, you are well on your way to being fluent. Even in our native language, we often have a mental block about a word and have to use our acting skills!
#5 Native speakers do not modify their language for you
This is one of the greatest milestones you can achieve as a language learner. If you’ve truly achieved fluency, then even native speakers do not consider you a learner and will communicate with you just like they would with a fellow native.
#6 GetTing emotional
A true sign of fluency is the ability to express even the deepest emotions or continue to speak even when affected emotionally, which is when words even in our own language may sometimes desert us. Metaphors, idioms, and the ability to interpret nuances of pronunciation are all signs of fluency. For example. “Are you wearing that?” Fact-finding. “Are you wearing that?” Criticism.
#7 Dream away the night
Well, we all like to dream of becoming fluent when we take up another language. According to some, to hear or speak a foreign language in your dream indicates a message from your subconscious that you do not yet understand. However, we think to be able to dream in the new lingo, and actually know what’s going on, is a sure sign that you have made it. Additional things like understanding jokes, slang, and common phrases can also be clear indicators (and perks) of being fluent in a foreign language!
Conclusion
After hours of remembering new words, correcting grammar mistakes and perfecting pronunciation, knowing that you’re fluently speaking a foreign language is an achievement like no other. The lesson is simple – hard work eventually pays off (so you can achieve your dream of watching movies without subtitles or listening to Shakira’s original Spanish hits!).
And if you’re still not sure of how fluently you’re speaking another language, test your language skills for the ultimate proof! You can now stop looking for answers to how to speak a language fluently and actually start learning one.
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Andrie Steliou
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