English is by far the “universal” language here. No matter where you come from, it’s the language that everyone tries to use if you don’t share a first language. I am lucky for it to be my first language.

Because it is almost everyone’s second language, it becomes a different from what I’m used to. It is a simplified version mixed with the native quirks of the speaker. As a result, I try to modify my American English so that it is more easily understood by all. Some examples of modifications I make depending on the skill level of the person I’m speaking to:

- Idioms, euphamisms and slang are useless. Even simple things like “Sure”, “Alright”, “Fine”.
- I remove all complex words from my vocabulary. Basically, don’t use words you learned after middle school.
- I remove contractions
- I remove verb tense
- I remove verb conjugation
- I try to speak in single, independent clauses.
- Little things you don’t even think about as part of the language start to disappear.. “Mhm”, “Uhuh”, “Nuhuh”.. because nobody understands them or they mean different things to others.
- You start to get rid of the simplest of things. “Hey” and “Hi” become “Hello” instead. “Yup” and “Yeah” become “Yes”.
- Swearing is not well understood by many as people of other cultures oftentimes don’t even swear in their own languages.

My speaking speed has also slowed down a lot. This is probably the best thing I have done to make myself more easily understood and it will probably help me in the US as well - I generally talk rather fast.

In the beginning, it was a conscious modification to my speech; now, it’s just how I sound naturally.

I’ve met a few younger people who have traveled a lot or who live here and found that their English is significantly different as well. They sound like the locals with a sort of broken English, but with American, British or Australian accents.

I don’t expect that this is anything permanent. It’s just interesting that I find myself speaking this way even when I’m talking to a native English speaker.