From what I've read, a native speaker of English (or any language) is one whose first language is that language. Technically, English is not my first language. I came to the US at the age of 2. However, English is my predominant language, and I've pretty much forgotten (or never learned in any depth) my first language. So am I considered a native speaker of English?
2007-11-16 06:28:14 · 8 answers · asked by Shasta McNasty 2007 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
At 2, you have not acquired any skill in any language, so English is easily your native language.
2007-11-16 06:32:53 · answer #1 · answered by Taivo 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
If you just came at 2 and your language was English you might be considered a native speaker. But you say predominent or have not learned in depth the other. So you still have relatives or have over the years had contact with people who speak the other.
Look up the State Dept. levels of languages. Native speaker means that you grew up in and were surrounded at all times by those who only spoke a certain language. That is that.
It matters not as the more languages you speak the better.
2007-11-16 09:03:28 · answer #2 · answered by jackson 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Taivo is right. Age 2 is certainly young enough to easily acquire English in the same way that monolingual speakers do. It is possible for a person to have two (or more) native languages.
2007-11-16 11:57:48 · answer #3 · answered by drshorty 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, whatever language you spoke as you went through school is your native language. It's the language you learned to read and write in so technically it's considered your native language.
Is it the language you think in?
By the way, I like your ID name. Shasta McNasty. I used to be a writer for the TV show 8 years ago. In fact, I helped create it. We named it after a bar in Canada. LOL, good times.
2007-11-16 09:27:35 · answer #4 · answered by twelve 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If a kid born in Borneo is adopted by a Dutch family and grows up speaking Dutch, he would be a native Dutch speaker, right?
It's not where you were born or your descent. So, yes, you are a native English speaker.
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2007-11-16 06:55:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Depends on how old you are. If you are 15 or above now then yes you are a native speaker.
2007-11-16 06:38:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
must be...
first is first....
and your first is English becaus you woudl be to young to speak your native langauge
2007-11-16 06:35:51 · answer #7 · answered by ケチャッパー 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only if you speak it with any accent.
2007-11-16 06:47:07 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋