A cousin of mine, who grew up in the US with her mother speaking German, spent a school year with her grandparents in Germany, going to German junior high school (she was 10). She’s now perfectly bilingual.
One of my friends was born of French parents in Paris but raised in the US, her mother speaking French with her. She now lives in Paris and is perfectly bilingual.
Here is the account of a fellow ProZ.com member (a translator website) who graciously allowed me to publish her message to me on this blog:
When I was young I studied Hindi and English at school
(started at 2-2.5 years with both languages), spoke punjabi
with my parents and as I was living in Bengali speaking
areas, I picked up and spoke Bengali with my friends. I
used to read Bengali when I was younger.Of course, I have same level in English and Hindi. I
studied Punjabi with my parents as both my parents were
into literature, I started reading Punjabi literature with
my cousins and parents…Today, English, Hindi and Punjabi are my working languages.
I cannot speak Bengali but I can understand most of it.
It’s fun when people speak/ discuss in Bengali/ Oriya or
Asamese thinking that no one is listening… (of course, in
public places) and well, I just can’t help smiling. So I
know that I can still understand the nuances of these
languages in spite of the fact that I have not lived in
Bengali-speaking area for a long time now.And I am an average person. But most people in India can
speak at least 2-3 languages… so I guess there is no
question of confusing a child. Just get some literature/
comics etc. in both languages and take frequent trips to
Germany. Not so difficult with TGV (you are in Strasbourg
in app. 2 hours.Get a German navigator for your car… This can be a good
tool.
A young man from the German-speaking part of Switzerland I met via an Internet forum has a rather interesting constellation:
His father’s mother tongue is Italian, his mother’s French and Swiss-German. Household languages were Swiss-German and Italian, but French with his mother’s family. The main language spoken at home was Swiss-German, but his parents would switch languages depending on their mood.
As a kid he would often reply in Swiss-German even when spoken to in French or Italian, without realising.
His French came more from French TV stations than from his family (this was in the days wth only few TV stations, the 1980s, remember them?) where he watched the shows for children.
Later his interest in sports motivated him to learn reading Italian, and he also went to a language-oriented school, which totaled him 7 years of French, 6 years of Latin and 5 years of English.
When I met him we spoke English and French. I can’t judge his Italian, but his mastery of the other three languages was very good.
I’m collecting more accounts and would ask you to add yours here if you have grown up with more than one language.
August 30th, 2010 - 13:17
When I was born my parents spoke high German together, they still do. Growing up in the French speaking parts of Switzerland I picked up my first words with my babysitters, and then at kindergarten (“ateliers”, at age 4). I heard Swiss German when we met my grandmother (mum’s mother) and my dad’s middle brother, and Bengali when my other set of grand parents came to visit, usually they stayed several months so I picked up a lot and used to be fluent, at 4-5.
I had to speak High German at home even if I didn’t want to, was a bit annoying at the time but I am glad to be more or less fluent nowadays, I am missing some words sometimes but I get by.
I picked up a lot of English when my dad spoke with his siblings and because my mum spoke English with my dad’s parents at home. Later I “perfected” my vocabulary and pronounciation by watching a lot of TV and traveling in the UK. I studied English at school for 5 years, I think. But my grades improved a lot when we had the first English speaking channels. Internet helps me with keeping my writing in relatively good shape.
As for German I never learned much at school despite having lessons for 7 years. I had a special teacher who never taught us grammar, and since I could already speak I never tired to learn anything 😉
I picked up some Italian from listening to TV shows, cartoons, and because my mum grew up in Tessin she could explain stuff. But I think both my parents were pretty surprised to realise I could understand Italian.
Nowadays at over 40, I would say that French and English are the language I master best. In written and spoken word. I can follow any conversation in High German but find it hard to read or write (but I manage) I can make do in Swiss German, but people try to answer in High German so it’s frustrating. I plod on because it’s part of my Heritage after all.
I understand Italian and can read some if I speak the words in my mind. Speaking is difficult but enough if I am traveling and just asking for basic things. Writing would be out of question.
I forgot most of the Bengali, but I can guess what a conversation is about sometimes.
I think that’s it, and I had already told you some of it I think. But if you have any questions feel free to email me. ^^