Lost in Translation? It's About More Than Just the Words

Hello everyone,

As a second language learner, I’ve noticed that while expressing basic needs becomes straightforward after a while, capturing the subtle connotations of a foreign language is a whole different level.

For example, in my mother tongue, expressing modesty or politeness often involves adding a lot of context or hedging remarks before getting to the point. However, I’ve noticed that when I translate this directly into English, it often backfires. As I later realized, this 'modesty' can come across as a lack of confidence, insecurity, or just unnecessary over-explaining.

Curious to learn from everyone's story:

1. From your perspective as a native speaker: Do you notice these subtle differences in politeness, directness, or humor when people are learning your native language?
2. From your perspective as a learner: How do you actively catch and learn these pragmatic nuances as you progress through different stages?