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?

  • Treczoks@lemmy.world
    2·
    14 days ago

    I’m still better in my native tongue than in English, but I would still consider myself ‘fluent’, with some people considering me ‘native’, which I would never claim for me. This I would call “personal relativity”, as I am probably more fluent in English than quite some native speakers. And I definitely read English faster than most native speakers.