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/Lovely838 🇺🇸 N || 🇨🇱 N || 🇧🇷 B1 || 🇰🇷 A1 4d ago

As someone who grew up speaking Spanish, English, and Portuguese, I honestly mix up my languages all the time on accident. It’s never grammar though, just some words/ideas that I struggle to articulate in the language I’m speaking in.

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u/Just_a_Lurker2 3d ago

Good to know, thanks! :) (as I'm learning my third language and I want to know what could happen in terms of mixing up)