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?
I think there’s a difference between first language and native.
I believe native means a level of language equivalent to the people of the place where that language is talked.
A first language is usually spoken at native level because most people will have been using it all their lives. But if you don’t because you moved away or whatever reason I don’t think you’ll have a native level.
On the other hand you can become native in a language that’s not your first language. If you speak it so well that’s indistinguishable from any other person from that place.