--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The problem with English is this: You…" description: "\"“The problem with English is this: You usually can't open your mouth and it comes out just like that--first you have to think what you want to say. The..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/noviolet-bulawayo-12666_saying_the-problem-with-english-is-this-you-usu_2266588.jpg" --- # The problem with English is this: You usually can't open… ![“The problem with English is this: You usually can't open your mouth and it comes out just like that--first you have to think what you want to say. Then you have to find the words. Then you have to carefully arrange those words in your head. Then you have to say the words quietly to yourself, to…” quote by NoViolet Bulawayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/noviolet-bulawayo-12666_saying_the-problem-with-english-is-this-you-usu_2266588.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/noviolet-bulawayo-12666_saying_the-problem-with-english-is-this-you-usu_2266588.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/noviolet-bulawayo-12666_saying_the-problem-with-english-is-this-you-usu_2266588.jpg) > ““The problem with English is this: You usually can't open your mouth and it comes out just like that--first you have to think what you want to say. Then you have to find the words. Then you have to carefully arrange those words in your head. Then you have to say the words quietly to yourself, to make sure you got them okay. And finally, the last step, which is to say the words out loud and have them sound just right. But then because you have to do all this, when you get to the final step, something strange has happened to you and you speak the way a drunk walks. And, because you are speaking like falling, it's as if you are an idiot, when the truth is that it's the language and the whole process that's messed up. And then the problem with those who speak only English is this: they don't know how to listen; they are busy looking at your falling instead of paying attention to what you are saying.”” [NoViolet Bulawayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noviolet-bulawayo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. English forces overthinking before speaking, causing awkward delivery and poor listening. **In simple terms:** English makes speaking hard and listening harder. Key Takeaway Simplify speech and practice active listening. Themes communication language overthinking listening misunderstanding Mood frustrated reflective hopeful Type advice observational critical When to use this quote - public speaking - language learning - cross‑cultural dialogue - teaching English Key Concepts cognitive load speech production active listening Questions to Reflect On - How can you streamline your thoughts before speaking? - What habits improve listening to others? A Different Perspective Complex ideas can be lost in translation, leading to misinterpretation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Paying Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paying-attention/) [Problem English](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-english-2672358/) [Problem Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-speak-1039146/) [Say Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-words/) [Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying/) [Words Carefully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-carefully/) ## Related quotes > [“And then the problem with those who speak only English is this: they don't know how to listen; they are busy looking at your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noviolet-bulawayo/and-then-the-problem-with-those-who-speak-only-english-is-this-they/) [NoViolet Bulawayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noviolet-bulawayo/) > [But the problem is that when I go around and speak on campuses, I still don't get young men standing up and saying, 'How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/but-the-problem-is-that-when-i-go-around-and-speak-on-campuses-i/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [“The problem with the English Patient is that to enjoy it, you have to be either English or patient.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-queenan/the-problem-with-the-english-patient-is-that-to-enjoy-it-you-have-to/) [Joe Queenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-queenan/) > [The language was not a big problem because my English was getting better every year. So, I really felt comfortable and I had trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedi-osman/the-language-was-not-a-big-problem-because-my-english-was-getting/) [Cedi Osman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedi-osman/) > [The main problem with English players has always been the price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hodgson/the-main-problem-with-english-players-has-always-been-the-price/) [Roy Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-hodgson/) > [What you say today will affect someone close deeply, choose your words carefully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-you-say-today-will-affect-someone-close-deeply-choose-your-words/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have used the words and expressions which my experiences from Minsk to Kharkov to the Don suggested to me. But I should have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-sajer/i-have-used-the-words-and-expressions-which-my-experiences-from-minsk/) [Guy Sajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-sajer/) > [I have to choose my words carefully because I don't want to sound like one of those who goes on about how things were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-taylor/i-have-to-choose-my-words-carefully-because-i-don-t-want-to-sound/) [Graham Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-taylor/) > [“Let us use words carefully, because words can betray and kill.( "A gap of silence")”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/let-us-use-words-carefully-because-words-can-betray-and-kill-a-gap-of/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [Words have no meaning until they are followed by action. Choose your words carefully and act even more cautiously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/words-have-no-meaning-until-they-are-followed-by-action-choose-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Words that are carefully framed and spoken are the most powerful means of communication there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-duarte/words-that-are-carefully-framed-and-spoken-are-the-most-powerful/) [Nancy Duarte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-duarte/) > [I was about to write that in the future I would chose my words more carefully but I'm sure I won't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cheadle/i-was-about-to-write-that-in-the-future-i-would-chose-my-words-more/) [Don Cheadle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cheadle/) > [“She tries to maintain a nondescript exterior; she learns the sideways glance instead of looking at people directly. She speaks in practised, precise sentences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-hanif/she-tries-to-maintain-a-nondescript-exterior-she-learns-the-sideways/) [Mohammed Hanif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-hanif/) > [“After years of not speaking, I understood the importance of words. How they had the power to hurt individuals, yet they also had the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittainy-c-cherry/after-years-of-not-speaking-i-understood-the-importance-of-words-how/) [Brittainy C. Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittainy-c-cherry/) > [If you realize your tomorrow is what you speak today, maybe you will choose your words carefully today!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-realize-your-tomorrow-is-what-you-speak-today-maybe-you-will/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by NoViolet Bulawayo > [“Further and further we go, and the sun keeps ironing us and ironing us and ironing us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noviolet-bulawayo/further-and-further-we-go-and-the-sun-keeps-ironing-us-and-ironing-us/) [NoViolet Bulawayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noviolet-bulawayo/) > [“...and the women spread their ntsaroz and sit on one side, the men on the other, like they are two different rivers that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noviolet-bulawayo/and-the-women-spread-their-ntsaroz-and-sit-on-one-side-the-men-on-the/) [NoViolet Bulawayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noviolet-bulawayo/) > [“Because we were not in our country, we could not use our own languages, and so when we spoke our voices came out bruised.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noviolet-bulawayo/because-we-were-not-in-our-country-we-could-not-use-our-own-languages/) [NoViolet Bulawayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noviolet-bulawayo/) > [“Heaven is boring. Didn't you see, in that picture book back when we used to go to school? It's just plain and white and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noviolet-bulawayo/heaven-is-boring-didn-t-you-see-in-that-picture-book-back-when-we/) [NoViolet Bulawayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noviolet-bulawayo/) > [“You pray and pray and pray and nothing changes, like for example I prayed for a real house and good clothes and a bicycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noviolet-bulawayo/you-pray-and-pray-and-pray-and-nothing-changes-like-for-example-i/) [NoViolet Bulawayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noviolet-bulawayo/) > [“It's not the lying itself that makes me feel bad but the fact that I'm here lying to my friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noviolet-bulawayo/it-s-not-the-lying-itself-that-makes-me-feel-bad-but-the-fact-that-i/) [NoViolet Bulawayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noviolet-bulawayo/) > [“a country is a Coca-Cola bottle that can smash on the floor and disappoint you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noviolet-bulawayo/a-country-is-a-coca-cola-bottle-that-can-smash-on-the-floor-and/) [NoViolet Bulawayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noviolet-bulawayo/) > [“Look at them leaving in droves despite knowing they will be welcomed with restraint in those strange lands because they do not belong, knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noviolet-bulawayo/look-at-them-leaving-in-droves-despite-knowing-they-will-be-welcomed/) [NoViolet Bulawayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noviolet-bulawayo/) > [“this place doesn't look like my America”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noviolet-bulawayo/this-place-doesn-t-look-like-my-america/) [NoViolet Bulawayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noviolet-bulawayo/) > [“He speaks with this tone like he owns things, but we know that even the baton stick in his hands is not his, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noviolet-bulawayo/he-speaks-with-this-tone-like-he-owns-things-but-we-know-that-even/) [NoViolet Bulawayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noviolet-bulawayo/) > [“At first it comes in small drops; that's how pee does, if somebody is watching, then it just won't come. I get more tiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noviolet-bulawayo/at-first-it-comes-in-small-drops-that-s-how-pee-does-if-somebody-is/) [NoViolet Bulawayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noviolet-bulawayo/) > [“When you look into their faces it's like something that was in there got up and gathered its things and walked away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noviolet-bulawayo/when-you-look-into-their-faces-it-s-like-something-that-was-in-there/) [NoViolet Bulawayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noviolet-bulawayo/) > [“Others with names like myths, names like puzzles, names we had never heard before: Virgilio, Balamugunthan, Faheem, Abdulrahman, Aziz, Baako, Dae-Hyun, Ousmane, Kimatsu. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noviolet-bulawayo/others-with-names-like-myths-names-like-puzzles-names-we-had-never/) [NoViolet Bulawayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noviolet-bulawayo/) > [“There are times, though, that no matter how much food I eat, I find the food does nothing for me, like I am hungry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noviolet-bulawayo/there-are-times-though-that-no-matter-how-much-food-i-eat-i-find-the/) [NoViolet Bulawayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noviolet-bulawayo/) > [“If Messenger would be to open his mouth right now, his voice would be a terrible wound.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noviolet-bulawayo/if-messenger-would-be-to-open-his-mouth-right-now-his-voice-would-be/) [NoViolet Bulawayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noviolet-bulawayo/) [Explore all 53 NoViolet Bulawayo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noviolet-bulawayo/) ## More Saying quotes > [It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. Shakespeare is just like learning a new, exciting language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/it-s-like-saying-french-shouldn-t-be-taught-because-you-don-t/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [“Fine’s a funny word, don’t you think? I don’t think there’s another like it in the English language that says so much while actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-chase/fine-s-a-funny-word-don-t-you-think-i-don-t-think-there-s-another/) [Emma Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-chase/) > [I always think 12 times before saying anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-blethyn/i-always-think-12-times-before-saying-anything/) [Brenda Blethyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-blethyn/) > [Most people do surprisingly poorly when dealing with a relative who is hurting, depressed, or anxious - we get defensive and try to solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/most-people-do-surprisingly-poorly-when-dealing-with-a-relative-who/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [“...choose your battles wisely and remember, what the heart knows, walks afar from reason. It simply is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelo-tsanatelis/choose-your-battles-wisely-and-remember-what-the-heart-knows-walks/) [Angelo Tsanatelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelo-tsanatelis/) > [We are always saying: Let the Law take its Course but what we really mean is: Let the Law take OUR Course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/we-are-always-saying-let-the-law-take-its-course-but-what-we-really/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [“Having a child is to show an absolute accord with mankind. If I have a child, it's as though I'm saying: I was born…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/having-a-child-is-to-show-an-absolute-accord-with-mankind-if-i-have-a/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Your job as a writer is to find storylines, narrative structures, and characters to show the things that you believe rather than saying them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/your-job-as-a-writer-is-to-find-storylines-narrative-structures-and/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [Oh, but there's such a difference between saying a thing yourself and hearing other people say it,' wailed Anne. 'You may know a thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/oh-but-there-s-such-a-difference-between-saying-a-thing-yourself-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I was a little boy, I was reading Dante and I was saying to myself 'Bravo, Dante, Bravo.' It's so beautiful, the music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-benigni/when-i-was-a-little-boy-i-was-reading-dante-and-i-was-saying-to/) [Roberto Benigni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-benigni/) > [Don't ever sell mankind short by saying there's anything they can't do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fredric-brown/don-t-ever-sell-mankind-short-by-saying-there-s-anything-they-can-t-do/) [Fredric Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fredric-brown/) > [There was a lot of stress and assumptions made without me even saying anything, which was very upsetting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-stevens/there-was-a-lot-of-stress-and-assumptions-made-without-me-even-saying/) [Craig Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-stevens/) > [The possibility of saying anything about a thing rests on the assumption that it preserves its identity, or continues to be the same thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-knight/the-possibility-of-saying-anything-about-a-thing-rests-on-the/) [Frank Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-knight/) [Browse all 3,547 Saying quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The problem with English is this: You usually can't open your mouth and it comes out just like that--first you have to think what you want to say. 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