Whether the thought process is connected to our spoken languages or has its own language (Language of Thought Hypothesis/Mentalese), or whether we can think in a specific language is a separate discussion.

Let’s set that aside for now. Our focus here is this: can translation be used as a tool to learn English?

Many people rely on translation when learning a language, but it often does more harm than good. The challenges of using translation to learn English are outlined below:

1. You perform two tasks.

When we translate, we do two things:

• Forming your thoughts in Tamil sentences
• Converting those sentences into English

You might wonder, “Why not do both tasks? What’s the problem with that?” Let's get into it.

2. Exact word equivalents are often hard to find.

Usually, we have a lot of exposure to our native language since our childhood. It results in deep language sense enabling us to think about and express complex ideas. When you form your sentences in your mother tongue first, they can have complex words and phrases with nuanced meanings. But the problem arises when you try to translate them into English. Since you're still learning the language, you may not always find an exact English equivalent for your native words. This can lead to two issues: you may become frustrated when you can’t find the right words, and even worse, you might lose confidence in your ability to learn.

You might ask, ‘Don’t we need to know the exact words to express our ideas?’ Not necessarily. Oxford English Dictionary contains around 6,00,000 words (6 lakh words), but you don’t need to know all of them to convey their meanings or your ideas. The dictionary uses only around 3000 words as its defining vocabulary. A defining vocabulary is a list words used to explain the meanings of other words in a dictionary. That means 6,00,000 words are defined and explained using only about 3000 words. So if you know just 3000 words, you can effectively express the meanings of the entire 600,000-word lexicon.

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t expand your vocabulary. You can always learn new words as you develop a reading habit.

3. Sentence structures are different.

The sentence structures in English and Tamil are fundamentally different. In Tamil, there is often a distinction between spoken and written language. In English, sentence structures don't always align with time in the same way. Take a look at these examples:

• The school reopens next month.
• I am meeting my friend tomorrow.
• I will call you tomorrow.

Although these three sentences refer to the future, they use different tense structures. Each of these future references serves a different purpose. Understanding these nuances is something you can only grasp by learning English independently, without relying on direct translation from your native language.

4. Idiomatic expressions can be confusing.

Words and phrases can be have two meanings: literal and figurative. In literal usage, words mean exactly what they are intended to mean. There is no hidden meaning. But in figurative usage, words take on a special meaning depending on the context.

• India bit the dust in the match yesterday. (be defeated or to fail completely.)
• My grandfather kicked the bucket last year. (kick the bucket - to die.)

To master English, it's important to learn how to distinguish between the literal and figurative meanings of words and expressions.

5. Translation disrupts fluency.

Translating makes you rely on your native language, which slows down your ability to think and speak directly in English. While translation might work when you're writing, since you have time to think, it becomes a barrier when speaking. In conversation, there’s no time to translate in real-time; fluency is disrupted as you struggle to convert thoughts into English. To speak confidently, you need to practice speaking directly in your target language.

What to do?

1. Don’t translate. Express your ideas directly in English.
2. If you must translate in the beginning, don’t translate word for word. Break down your native language sentences into smaller parts that fit into English sentence structures. Focus on expressing them using the vocabulary you already know. Keep everything simple.

The goal is to communicate in English in a way the listener or reader understands what you express. Remember, translation is a separate skill, best developed after achieving proficiency in English.