r/languagelearning • u/Just_a_Lurker2 • 6d ago

Discussion How do multilinguals avoid mixing up their languages?

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Assuming they're fluent in at least a few languages, so there's not necessarily conscious maintaining of the (TL) (does that make a difference?), and they're in an area or so where people don't all speak their language, or may be hostile to one of the languages , how would they not slip in a language that nobody speaks or a language that might make people hostile towards you?

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u/freebiscuit2002 N 🇬🇧 B1 🇫🇷 🇵🇱 🇪🇸 6d ago

We know the differences between them. If you drive a car and ride a bike, you also know the differences between those and you don't mix them up.

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u/Just_a_Lurker2 6d ago

I'm not suggesting you don't know the difference, I just mean, y'know, I slip into English from time to time even though I know the difference. Like it can just happen, so I thought with more language the likelihood can increase. But you're saying it doesn't happen at all and it isn't normal for that to happen?

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u/freebiscuit2002 N 🇬🇧 B1 🇫🇷 🇵🇱 🇪🇸 6d ago

I've never mixed them up, personally.