I’m fluent in two languages. Like defended-my-undergraduate-mech-eng-senior-research-and-thesis-in-my-second-language fluent. Like work-on-projects-based-in-that-foreign-country-in-that-foreign-language fluent.
Academically, professionally, and colloquially.
But I don’t call that second language my “native language” even though my parents are from that country, I only communicate with them in that language, and I only spoke that language up to the age of 5 (just like Elle... hint, this is when kindergarten starts).
My native language is still English because that’s what I spoke in school up until I moved to a foreign country, that’s what my thoughts form in, and that’s what I’m most comfortable expressing myself adequately and fully in.
Elle stopped speaking French fluently at age 5 (26 years ago, according to her own mother. Also, when was the last time anyone spoke to a 5 year old... they’re BARELY fluent in any language. My kiddo just turned 6.), and according to actual French speakers, she doesn’t express herself fluently in French... so... how is it her native language?
Academically, professionally, and colloquially.
But I don’t call that second language my “native language” even though my parents are from that country, I only communicate with them in that language, and I only spoke that language up to the age of 5 (just like Elle... hint, this is when kindergarten starts).
My native language is still English because that’s what I spoke in school up until I moved to a foreign country, that’s what my thoughts form in, and that’s what I’m most comfortable expressing myself adequately and fully in.
Elle stopped speaking French fluently at age 5 (26 years ago, according to her own mother. Also, when was the last time anyone spoke to a 5 year old... they’re BARELY fluent in any language. My kiddo just turned 6.), and according to actual French speakers, she doesn’t express herself fluently in French... so... how is it her native language?