This is definitely a bit of a stupid question… but methinks this happens to a good number of immigrants. Asking because there is a bit of a funny philosophical debate here:

  • Technically the second language is not “native” by virtue of you not growing up with it
  • But you speak it better than your native language, so skill-wise it is “native”

So do you have “native” language skills, or would you consider yourself simply highly “fluent” at the second language?

  • PlutoniumAcid@lemmy.world
    5·
    17 days ago

    I speak four languages at native level, because I can change languages mid sentence and you wouldn’t know which one is my actual origin language (hint: it’s two).

    I’m more than fluent. Fluent just means you can speak in complete coherent sentences without hesitation. You can do this but still have a strong accent - like many of the Indian tech wizards, for instance.

    Native, to me, means that it’s practically indistinguishable from a person that grew up in that country, and you can’t tell that I didn’t actually grow up in that country.