Is this possible... languages?

Question

Is it possible to be born with a certain language (such as English) and learn a new foreign langauge (such as Spanish, Arabic, French etc.) so well that you start to think in that language instead? And I am not talking about little kids, I am talking about people in their mid teens and young adult years. Also, is it possible that someone in that age range can learn a new language so well that they can completly forget the old langauge they were born with? Just wondering...

Answer 1

Most of language forms before you reach puberty, so it is unlikely that they would ever entirely forget their old language, but possible with enough years.

However, it would be pretty rare.

But possible, especially if they have no contact with their old speech.

Answer 2

I don't know about totally forgetting a language you spoke well into your teen years, but after 40 years of NOT using that language, I could imagine that it would be hard to have a conversation again - I have seen it in older people.

I moved away from my country 6 years ago and it took me about 2 to notice I was thinking more in English then French. I believet that within 6 months I started doing my grocery list in English, that's a sign.

This is of course, because I speak that language everyday and I get to speak French maybe once a week, but read it everyday.

Resistance is futile :(

Answer 3

Well, I grew up learning English and Chinese. In high school, I learned French. And yes, occasionally, I do think in French 9as well as the other two languages). It is possible. I think it depends on the degree to which you learn the new language.. that is, I thought in French because I learned it for four years in h.s. I don't think you can ever completely forget your first language, but perhaps you forget a few words here and there. Intriguing question!

Answer 4

I started being fluent in English when I was 14, so I guess I'm exactly the type of person you mean. My first language is French. Thinking in English is possible. I even often don't find a word I'm looking for in my first language and use the English word, asking for my friends to help locate the French word I was looking for.

Dreaming in another language is also possible! And usually, once you realize you have dreams in another language, it means you' ve become pretty good in that language!

Answer 5

Yes, it can happen. Some people have an amazing fluency with languages, others seldom get past the basics. So the answer to your question very much depends on the individual.
As far as completely forgetting the old language -- no. The language you were born with will always remain with you. You might get rusty, but being re-exposed will bring it all back.

Answer 6

Good question !
It is difficult but not impossible to think or dream in a newly learnt language. Staying at the place where everybody speaks this language can make it possible.

As for the second question, you can never forget a language in whole but in parts yes- the vocabulary part especially, when you move into the environment of the new language.

Answer 7

I'm a teenanger. And my native language is Turkish. I started to learn English 4 years ago and now I can speak and write English as its native speakers. And I didn't forget my native language :-) And I think it's not possible to forget the native language because of the second langauage.

Answer 8

Yes, you can become just as fluent (or even more so) in another language than your "first language" if you're exposed to it enough (for example, if you live in that country). For example, it would be very easy for an English speaking teenager who moves to another country and learns another language and goes through higher education in that language to have a larger vocabulary in that language than in English.

As for totally forgetting your first language, it's not likely, but I think people can forget more of their first language than they would expect if they don't use it enough. For example, I could easily imagine our previously mentioned teenager being able to do little more than say "hello" and "how are you" in a heavily accented version of his mother language when he's in his 80s.

Answer 9

yes I'm a native Spanish speaker and I have taken English sense I was 7yrs old and I sometimes think in English but not all the time I still live in a Spanish speaking country! and yes you can forget your native language but if you live in another place where you have to speak another language and not your own (that has happened to a close friend of mine )I am now 18 yrs old and am a fluent English speaker !!!

Answer 10

When you start to associate the words learned in a new language, then you automatically begin to "think" in that language and the associations become natural. I have accomplished this withg two languages which I have studied (German and Spanish) and don't even have to think of translating ideas or concepts anymore.
I will say, however, that it only comes after many years of being immersed in a language.

Answer 11

most younger people forgot their inborn language especially if they move to a different country with different language. but i'm not sure about adults, i guess if they only talk to people on that language.

i have learned 3 different languages. i speak english at work. i used my dialect at home. and i can still speak the other language if i need too, like that person only speaks that language.

so, i'm not sure if you can totally forget a language if you're already an adult. because i don't.