Expressing your feelings is never easy, even in your native tongue. But things can become even tougher when you communicate with someone speaking a different language. There's no question that communicating over phone calls or voice messages is the best way to have heavy conversations, ensuring that all the emotional nuances of your voice come through. But how can you freely and authentically express yourself while effectively overcoming language barriers?
Linguistic differences can make emotional conversations challenging. While there's no shortage of language translation techniques, most software and web services only provide word-for-word interpretations. They remove the emotive weight of your speech, making it difficult to unload, express your feelings, and say what you need to say accurately. Whether you're putting your heart on the line, tackling serious issues with international colleagues, or having a simple heart-to-heart with family, here are a few tips to help you express your feelings during a multilingual conversation.
Learn Basic Emotional Vocabulary
Different cultures express and interpret emotions in unique ways. What's normal for you may not apply to the person you speak to. Cultural differences are beautiful, but the nuances of language and emotional expression can cause things to get lost in translation.
One way to express yourself freely while getting your point across is to learn some basic emotional vocabulary in the other person's native language. Research the words in that language used to describe different emotions. Finding the right vocabulary can help you communicate more effectively.
Many languages may or may not have direct equivalents for the words you would use. Some cultures have a rich vocabulary to describe emotions. Meanwhile, others use more general terms. You may even learn brand-new terms for emotions that don't exist in your native tongue, such as the Portuguese term "Saudade" or the Czech word "Litost."
Broadening your emotional vocabulary makes a big difference. It makes it easier to express yourself in a way familiar to the person you're talking to.
Be Descriptive When Speaking to Add Emotional Depth
Being extra descriptive goes a long way. Because cultural differences can shape how people understand and interpret emotions, it helps to paint a bigger picture.
Be descriptive and use many different terms to describe what you're feeling. You can also turn to metaphors and idioms they may be familiar with to help them understand.
When expressing your feelings, the goal is to help others empathize with your emotions. Being descriptive about what you're going through adds more emotional depth and makes it easier for the other person to relate. It's how you build that human connection, establish trust, and ensure understanding.
Colorful descriptions can also provide clarity while preventing awkward or embarrassing mistranslations.
Practice Speaking Out Loud
Heavier conversations can be painful and difficult, no matter the subject. Humans have infinite ways to express our emotions, but that doesn't make it any easier to get through or guarantee that others will empathize.
Before having this important conversation, practice speaking out loud. Emotions can cloud your mind and make it tough to form coherent sentences. When you need to express yourself, you want to clarify your thoughts and put them into words that others can understand. Speaking to someone in a different language adds another layer of complexity to that puzzle.
Therefore, reciting what you plan to say out loud can make all the difference. It's an opportunity to get comfortable articulating your emotions. You can also practice using that new emotional vocabulary you learned and find ways to be more descriptive.
You don't need to create a speech that you'll recite verbatim. However, you want to get comfortable communicating in a different language while piecing together your emotions in a way that makes sense.
Keep the Context of The Conversation in Mind
Always keep the context of your emotions front and center. Context refers to the circumstances surrounding your feelings. It's the background information that helps explain the meaning of what you're saying.
Context is crucial in all multilingual communication, but it's even more vital when expressing your feelings. Providing context helps others understand where you're coming from. They need to learn more about the extending circumstances to clarify your message and empathize with your feelings.
Without context, things will get lost in translation. Others might not understand why you feel the way you do. In the worst-case scenario, they may misinterpret your message and emotions, creating unnecessary drama that harms your relationship.
Providing context prevents those mishaps and allows you to express yourself more effectively.
The Importance of Intonation & Pace
Intonation and pace are two subtle nuances that create variations in human speech. They can shade your words, changing the overall emotional weight and meaning of what you're saying. These two subtleties can even change how someone interprets your message.
Intonation refers to the ups and downs of your voice. It's the rise and fall of pitch that you may use when having a conversation. People rarely talk in a monotone voice. Intonation makes speech lively and full of emotion, and how you use it when expressing your feelings makes a difference because it transforms your words and provides deeper meaning.
For example, a rise in intonation at the end of a sentence typically turns what you say into a question or creates a sense of curiosity. Meanwhile, a fall may reflect sadness. Use intonation to your advantage to provide more context. It can help improve understanding.
Pace is the overall rhythm of your speech. How quickly or slowly you provide information affects emotional weight and engagement. It can shape your entire conversation while affecting how people interpret your communication.
Utilize Real-Time Language Translation Apps
Expanding your emotional vocabulary and familiarizing yourself with how people express themselves in another language can help you communicate better during serious, emotion-filled conversations. However, there are quicker ways to circumvent language barriers and have multilingual conversations that feel authentic and personal.
Real-time language translation apps are a fantastic way to communicate with others around the globe quickly and easily. These apps are much different from the outdated literal interpretation software and services of yesteryear. They use advanced technology to decipher phrases in real time, allowing you to have natural conversations without awkward pauses or delays.
The best apps use artificial intelligence to translate languages with nearly no delays. They can also recreate your voice and provide more accurate interpretations, ensuring that you can express your feelings without the worry of cultural differences and lost emotional subtleties getting in the way.
How EzDubs Can Help
If you're looking for a live translation app to speak with colleagues, friends, and loved ones who speak a different language, check out EzDubs. This AI-powered translation app is changing how people overcome language hurdles.
EzDubs translates voices in real-time over phone calls and voice messages. The powerful app uses advanced AI to provide more accurate translations beyond basic word-for-word interpretation. The app considers your emotions, cultural nuances, and more while preserving the unique qualities of your voice.
What makes EzDubs unique is that all the characteristics that make your voice yours stay the same. Other apps use robotic, monotone voices devoid of emotion. However, EzDubs uses innovative speech technology to recreate your voice while preserving its tone and passion. Translated speech sounds like you, ensuring all the emotional weight of your speech remains intact.
With EzDubs, you can communicate using the methods you love most. The app allows you to make calls, send voice messages, and even use meeting apps to participate in international conferences. EzDubs works automatically, providing seamless translations that facilitate genuine conversations.
Download EzDubs on iOS or Android Today!
Don't let language barriers prevent you from expressing your feelings. EzDubs preserves your voice, recreating all your emotions while providing quick, seamless translations. Communicate more effectively than ever with the EzDubs app.