How would you define fluency in a foreign language?

Question

What parameters can be used to determine if a person is fluent or not in a foreign language?

Answer 1

Fluency in a foreign language is when you hear the words spoken of that language and you don't have to go through the process, in your mind, of translating what you've just heard into English to comprehend it. In response, likewise, you reply automatically without first developing your reply in English in your mind and then proceeding to translate it. When each word of a foreign language has its own meaning for what it is, and stops merely being the equivalent of the English version, then you have attained fluency.

Answer 2

A good question! It depends. I would say , for example; if your work requires you to be fluent in both oral and written work then then that would be their definition of fluency. However, if it is just to react with people in a social gathering, one should know enough to be able to laugh at jokes and understand most of a conversation and get thoughts across but not neccessarily fluent in the written language.

Answer 3

THere are four parameters in learning a language: reading, writing, understanding and speaking.
To be considered fluent, one should be comfortable in all 4: understand and be understood comfortably and well in all situations in all four parameters. That means that you can have a conversation with a group of people, understand the jokes and the debate without too much concentration, and being able to speak your mind without "huuuhhh", "ahem", "the thing, don't know how to call it...".

Answer 4

My daughter is now fluent in German, but I know only a little German. We were visiting her in Austria, and here is something I noticed. After she had been speaking to a local person, and we asked "What was that you said to them?", sometimes she had to say "Oh, it's too complicated to explain in English, but I know what it meant".

This is what "withoutmeaning" (answerer 4) is telling you. When you stop using your native language even in thought, you're fluent in the foreign language, and not really before.

Answer 5

I have heard that you are completely fluent in a language when you can understand their humor.

Answer 6

They should know about 5000 words and how to put them into sentences that are understandable.