my husband is romanian, im english and we have a 4 month old baby boy. i want him to be able to speak both, but my hubbie thinks it will confuse him. i figured, i speak english to him, and he speaks in romanian. is this confusing for the baby?? or is it the best way? when should we start???
2006-07-27 22:58:57 · 47 answers · asked by pepsicola 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
DO IT NOW!
It will NOT CONFUSE the baby, but rather help. Various studies have shown that children raised bilingually are generally more successful in school, socially, and later in life.
It would be one of the greatest gifts your husband could give your child (IMHO)!
2006-07-27 23:02:33 · answer #1 · answered by DizzyG 3 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Just speak to him in both languages - children are amazingly adaptable and will learn both without getting confused. It may mean he seems to start talking a bit later, but it wont effect his development at all. You have the opportunity to give him the most fantastic gift in growing up bi-lingual. Start right away - when you speak to him use English, and your hubby should use Romanian - perhaps, when you are together one can repeat what the other said in the other language for reinforcement.
Good luck, and lucky little boy!
2006-07-27 23:11:10 · answer #2 · answered by peggy*moo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Now is the best time to start. we are doing the same thing at home (Italian and English) and studies have shown the child should be exposed to both languages before 6 months b/c in the very early stages he/she is able to distinguish between all the different sounds of the language. An ability that begins to falter at about six months. If you start now he will have two first languages instead of a first and second. Although some believe that this impairs the early vocabulary list, it's shown that when these babies start to talk they actually have a BIGGER vocabulary b/ they have two words for everything.
2006-07-28 06:31:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is absolutely best if you speak to your baby in both languages from the very beginning. The earlier you expose him to both, the faster he will learn them. And being bilingual (which can *only* happen in young childhood) actually rewires the brain to make it easier to learn languages--and everything else!!--later in life. It is only in America and a few other places today that anyone thinks that more than one language is "confusing"! I bet your husband (or at least his parents) know *lots* of people who grew up speaking Romanian and Hungarian.
If you use both languages, he will know the difference between the two almost immediately. However, he will mix them in speech frequently until he is 2-3 because there will be words he knows only in one of the languages. By the time he is 3, he will be able to speak in both with only an occasional word from the other--and even be able to guess (usually correctly) which language to use with strangers!!
2006-07-27 23:36:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Languages are taught to children the moment they are born. They start learning the moment they hear us speak. Which means that your baby is learning and picking up the language everyday. No worries about confusing the baby. It would be ideal if you speak to your baby in one language and your husband to him in another language. Do not cross each other's barriers or your child may be confused. Meaning, you only speak english to him and not romanian at all. You baby will pick up both languages. No issue, no worries.
2006-07-27 23:14:46 · answer #5 · answered by Choco Pie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, teaching him both languages simultaneously will be extremely beneficial for the baby, for two reasons.
#1. Language acquisition is much easier and can develop to native-like fluency when a child is exposed to more than one language when he is a child. The older the child is, the more difficult it becomes to learn a second language. After age 5, the window of opportunity closes just enough that the child's fluency will be affected. Once the child is 12-13, it will be almost impossible for the child to achieve native-like fluency.
#2. The brain actually benefits from exposure to two or more languages, especially from infancy. Languages are learned with a certain part of the brain; there will not be "confusion" by having more than one language at home. As you get older, the part of the brain that works on acquiring languages becomes less efficient, and when you are 13 or older, you actually a DIFFERENT part of the brain, which is not as good at picking up languages... which again explains why it's so hard for older people to speak second languages like natives.
Basically, the best thing to do is to expose him to BOTH languages at the same time. The child will NOT be confused, and his brain will benefit tremendously. Studies have shown that children who speak more than one language from childhood (before age 6) achieve better in school, have better vocabularies, and are overall more intelligent than children who grow up only speaking one language.
2006-07-27 23:07:24 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are many bilingual families and they don't get confused.
Think of it this way. You can call a chair a seat in English and there are many other synonyms in the English language. All you'll be doing is adding additional Romanian words to your child's vocabulary. From about 18 months the child will begin to use some of the words but will be lacking on verbs.
But even we might say "I am James" or "My name is James" so adding a Romanian sentence won't be confusing.
2006-07-27 23:03:31 · answer #7 · answered by FontOfNoKnowledge 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey I'm a Romanian to and I speak English and Romanian. When i was young I learned more English than Romanian. Teach your son both languages, you will make him a big favor. Let him hear, see and feel these languages. No you aren't confusing the baby. This is the best way to teach him, by the time he grows you can teach him more and faster and better. Babies are learning to talk by hearing the words. Find a way to teach him equal both languages. Doresc pentru voi si pentru copilul vostru sanatate, multa dragoste si fericire.
2006-07-27 23:17:10 · answer #8 · answered by Soso 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It wont confuse him, babies have brains like sponges, they learn and adapt so quickly and easily. Do like you suggest and you speak English and Your Husband Romanian. He will quickly learn that you both have a different language, I have looked after children for 11 years and they pick things up so easily. Start straight away, babies learn words before they speak them so you are more likely to confuse him if one of you just suddenly 'switches' later on. Some of the children i taught had parents who spoke two languages and were Bi-lingual, Hes a lucky boy!!
2006-07-28 04:20:46 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it were my kid....It just happens that I just met a Romanian women with a young child and a father whose is speaks only English.. The child is being spoken to only in Romanian. It is a tough language and will be good for the child to learn as soon as possible. English will be spoken later on in school, etc...
2006-07-27 23:05:48 · answer #10 · answered by badwine 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
2 languages at the same time is not confusing for the baby. I've been living in multi-lingual environment, and can tell u that even if a baby cannot pick up all the languages equally and sometimes misuses some words, he/she is capable of learning as many languages as there around. just let the languages be used naturally, ur son will start picking up automatically. I'm expecting a baby boy, too, and due to some conditions my son will be exposed to 4 languages at the same time! and I think it's wonderful.
one more thing. kids may start talking a bit later if they live in multi-lingual surrounding, but eventually they r more intellectually developed.
2006-07-27 23:11:20 · answer #11 · answered by Lana 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋