This week at I Am Here, we’re asking: How Does Language Shape the Way We Speak About Our Emotions?
- How does the language we use influence the way we understand and express emotions?
- What can we learn from the way different cultures speak about mental health?
- How can expanding our emotional vocabulary help us better navigate our wellbeing?
Language is more than words—it is a lens through which we experience the world. Some languages express emotions as something we are, while others describe them as something that rests upon us and can pass with time.
By paying attention to these nuances, we can learn to relate to our feelings in gentler and more compassionate ways.
What Are We Watching This Week?
We are watching Why Language Affects Your Mental Health by Psych2Go.
Have you ever wondered how the language you speak influences your thoughts, behaviour, and interactions?
Language is more than just a communication tool—it’s a cognitive framework that shapes how we see ourselves and others.
From the adaptability of English to the collectivist nuances of Mandarin, the emotional expressiveness of Spanish, and the structured precision of German, each language reveals unique cultural and psychological traits.
This video explores how language impacts identity, decision-making, and social connection—helping us see just how powerful our words really are.
Watch the video clip (8-minute watch)
What Are We Reading This Week?
A list of Irish phrases compiled by I Am Here’s Áine Nic Chárthaigh shows how in Irish, emotions are not seen as fixed states of being—but as experiences that come upon us and then move on.
- Táim lán de dhócha.s – I am ‘full of’ hope. (Literally: ‘I am full of hope’.)
- Bhí sé ag borradh de dhóchas. – He was springing up with hope. (Literally: ‘Hope was springing up in him.’)
- An bhfuil díomá ort? – Are you disappointed? (Literally: ‘Is disappointment on you?’)
- Tá cumha an domhain uirthi. – She feels very lonely. (Literally: ‘The loneliness of the world is on her.’)
- Tháinig gruaim air. – He became sad. (Literally: ‘Sadness came on him.’)
- Tá an croí trom aige. – He is sad at heart. (Literally: ‘He has the heavy heart.’)
- Tháinig tocht air le teann lúcháire. – He was overwhelmed with joy. (Literally: ‘Joy came on him with such force he couldn’t speak.’)
- Bhí mé i mo shtaic le faitíos. – I was paralysed with fear. (Literally: ‘I was rooted to the spot with fear.’)
- Bhí náire orm. – I was embarrassed or ashamed. (Literally: ‘Shame was on me.’)
This way of speaking recognises emotions as temporary visitors—not permanent definitions of who we are.
Who Are We Quoting This Week?
“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.“
– Nelson Mandela
At I Am Here, we believe language is more than words — it is a bridge to connection, compassion, and understanding.
However we speak, let’s remember to show kindness to ourselves. Let’s also remember to trust that emotions are visitors that will pass.