On a first date, certain inquiries are inevitable, such “Where are you from?” What do you do for a living? What do you like to do on the weekends? Yet more than once, I’ve been taken aback when a prospective love interest has asked me the following question: What love language do you speak? These so-called “love languages” are getting presents, spending time together, hearing positive feedback, performing acts of service (devotion), and touching one another. The basic premise of Chapman’s book is that you can have a healthier and more harmonious relationship if you are aware of your partner’s and their love language. Consider a couple in which one partner prefers verbal expressions of affection while the other grew up in a family where compliments were not frequently exchanged. As a result, the other partner learned to express and experience love through acts of devotion, such as completing small favors for the other. According to The Five Love Languages in this situation, it would be beneficial for the second person to understand, “Oh, I hope my partner knows how much I adore and value them! I believed they already knew it from my behavior, but I’ll go ahead and tell them directly.” The five love languages include physical touch, acts of service, receiving presents, actions of quality time, and words of affirmation. Here is a brief explanation and illustration of each. You appreciate verbal expressions of love, such as compliments, hearing “I love you” regularly, and words of support. You like it when your lover just lets you know they are thinking of you by texting or calling. Your partner is someone you value. This could entail talking on the phone or over a video call, scheduling regular date evenings, or simply spending time together.
