I grew up in Germany speaking only German. My second language was Italian, but not fluently.
Then, at age 13, I moved to the USA and English became my new language. It is my dominant language now, but I still speak fluent German, but I have forgotten almost all of my Italian.
I speak and write better in English now.
So what would be considered my first language?
Is it the language you first learned or is it the language which you best speak?
2006-12-30 06:10:23 · 8 answers · asked by philosopher_pimp 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
A first language, native language or mother tongue is the language that was learned first by the person. In terms of that view, the person is defined as a native speaker of the language, although one may also be a native speaker of more than one language if all of the languages are learned without formal education, such as through cultural immersion before puberty. Often a child learns the basics of his or her first languages from his or her family.
The terms first, native, and mother can also be misleading, regardless of their definitions. It is quite possible that the first language learned is no longer a speaker's dominant language. Young immigrant children, whose families have moved to a new linguistic environment may lose, in part or in totality, the language they first acquired.
2006-12-30 07:44:26 · answer #1 · answered by veggie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your "first" language is the one you learn "first". So German would be considered your first language although English is your strongest. The confusion comes when a person is brought up speaking 2 languages at once.
2006-12-30 15:43:20 · answer #2 · answered by Stina 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would choose the one that you first spoke. For example, The first language I ever spoke was Samoan and even though I don not converse in that language as much as I used to I still consider it as my first language.
2006-12-30 15:09:04 · answer #3 · answered by phyleciah 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The one where you have no accent, that people when they hear you speak that language they know it's your first language.
2006-12-30 07:25:55 · answer #4 · answered by Nathalie D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
whichever language you spoke first so it would be German.
2006-12-30 06:18:02 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It should be whichever you speak the most in everyday conversation
2006-12-30 06:16:09 · answer #6 · answered by Gator 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would think you're first language would be german. but you don't really have to label them you're just bilingual
2006-12-30 06:25:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The one you feel more comfortable with.
2006-12-30 06:16:56 · answer #8 · answered by Sergio__ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋