Is English your first language?

@snam23 (3157)
United States
January 10, 2009 11:11pm CST
I know many people are from the US and of course, for them it would be their first language. However, I also know that many people are from outside the US but still speak English. So, is English your first language? Since I am Korean, my first language is Korean but I am much more fluent in English.
2 people like this
22 responses
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
11 Jan 09
Yes, English is my first language. In fact, it's my only language! LOL Some people have mistaken me for being a different nationality and presume I can speak their language. It shocks them when I answer them in English with no accent whatsoever.
1 person likes this
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
12 Jan 09
Mexican. They speak to me in Spanish, but stop short once they realize I don't know the language (other than a few words). Though I don't let them know this.
1 person likes this
@snam23 (3157)
• United States
12 Jan 09
Interesting. I do not think you look Mexican but maybe it is the long hair? I do not know, but you look American to me. Well, I would talk to everyone in English either way because I know at least most people can say hello and thank you and easy words like that. Happy mylotting!
@snam23 (3157)
• United States
11 Jan 09
That is very interesting to hear. What nationality do they assume or do you not know because you don't know what language they are speaking?
1 person likes this
@mkmoney (468)
11 Jan 09
not really
1 person likes this
@snam23 (3157)
• United States
12 Jan 09
What is then?
@snam23 (3157)
• United States
13 Jan 09
That is alright. I am glad you responded too. What kind of language is that? I have not heard of it before and am interested in learning about it. Happy mylotting!
• India
11 Jan 09
Its the same over here in India for me..I'm Basically a Tamilian whose language is Thamizh but i'm really not that fluent in Thamizh and i was failing in that language for 10 years and than only picked up the language but whereasin english i was getting centum all the ten years and i speak in English better than Thamizh..many people in my localty really tease me since i'm not fluent in my mother tongue and i'm more fluent in english..Happy mylotting...
• India
11 Jan 09
ya i also feel that many are jealous that we are better in english than them and thats the reason that they tease us....
@snam23 (3157)
• United States
11 Jan 09
I know how that feels like but I just tell myself that they are jealous and try to ignore them if it gets too insulting. I am very bad at Korean and never speak it so many people think I am American. My dark skin color does not help either but the important thing is I speak English better than most of them. Happy mylotting!
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
11 Jan 09
I was born in England and lived there until I moved to Italy just over thirty years ago. I learnt Italian after I moved here. Although English is my first language I find it has changed a lot in the years since I left. Many new words have been added (all the technological. computer and cell-phone labguage for wxample) and I am not familiar with them and sometimes stumble when trying to say something in English which involves those words. This makes me feel that Italian is not my first language as I am using it much more in daily life. Your English is very good snam
1 person likes this
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
11 Jan 09
oops typo: that should read 'Italian IS my first language.......'
1 person likes this
@snam23 (3157)
• United States
11 Jan 09
Thank you. It better be or that 9 years in the US would go to waste. I think your English is good and your Italian would probably be great for someone who has moved here and there and not lived in just one place. That makes sense about new words being added. There are a lot of slang and game terms I do not know about as well in Korean but after a year and with the help of my friends, I know a lot more than I did before. Thanks for responding and happy mylotting!
@sharie16 (2212)
• Philippines
11 Jan 09
not really, but Philippines is very fluent in speaking English, and many Koreans come here to study english since it is cheaper i think...actually it is great that we know at least 2 language, but it is even better if we know more languages, it is our advantage if we go to other places, aint right? happy weekend! God bless!
@snam23 (3157)
• United States
11 Jan 09
I think it is also because it is easier to learn English there than it is in Korea. Yes, I agree that it is very good know at least 2 languages and I am also learning Spanish in school so that will hopefully be 3. Happy mylotting!
@Sydemon (119)
• Philippines
12 Jan 09
well im a indian who is brought up in the phillippines who speaks alot of english so yes its the only language im really good at
1 person likes this
@snam23 (3157)
• United States
13 Jan 09
Hmmm... that is just like me except I am a Korean brought up in the US and speak a fair amount of Korean. Do you ever get teased at for not knowing any languages native to India as I have noticed many people from India know different regional and national languages. Happy mylotting!
@anandjee (282)
• India
11 Jan 09
My first language is Hindi and always speak in hindi to my family,friend and relative. But English is our official language, we taught English in school.
@snam23 (3157)
• United States
12 Jan 09
I have seen that many people from India know there native language as well as English.
@maximax8 (31055)
• United Kingdom
11 Jan 09
English is my mother tongue because I come from England in the United Kingdom. I learned French when I was at school and I am currently learning Spanish. Other countries I have visited that speak English are the USA, Belize, Australia and New Zealand. The standard of English is very high in Malta, Singapore and the Netherlands , just as good as a native speaker in most cases. It is excellent that you are so fluent in English.
@snam23 (3157)
• United States
12 Jan 09
I am also learning Spanish in school and learned English when I lived in the United States. I am so glad that people think my English is good because I feel like it is getting worse every year for some reason. I think it is great that you are becoming multilingual as it is necessary in our society. Good luck and happy mylotting!
@shell94 (990)
• Canada
11 Jan 09
It's my first language as well.
@snam23 (3157)
• United States
12 Jan 09
Seeing as you live in Canada, that makes sense. They do speak a little French over there though, don't they?
@CRSunrise (2981)
• United States
11 Jan 09
English is definitely my first and main language. Although, I do know some Spanish. Not enough to get my way around a Spanish speaking country though.
@snam23 (3157)
• United States
11 Jan 09
Although English is not my mother tongue, I often feel like it is. Also, I am learning Spanish as well.
@vipinl (802)
• India
12 Jan 09
No its one can say my third language..lol, first is Haryanvi.. regional language, second Hindi national language.. then its english.
@snam23 (3157)
• United States
12 Jan 09
Wow, you know a lot of languages. Very multilingual. That is very good though. Good luck and happy mylotting!
@zhuhuifen46 (3483)
• China
11 Jan 09
Chinese is my first language, but English has been the main tool for my career, as a teacher, translator and secretary. It is said people of bilingual ability is more likely to meet opportunities. In many joint ventures, English is almost the only working language, which saves a lot of resources. Besides, with English, we can better enjoy life by sharing the civilization of other countries.
@snam23 (3157)
• United States
11 Jan 09
What you have said is true. English is more widely used than any other language even if it is only the second most spoken language. However, we should keep in mind that the English used in the US is a combination of English, French, Spanish and other European and even Asian languages. Happy mylotting!
• India
11 Jan 09
English is not my first language ,i am living in India and i am basically a tamilian ,so my first language is Tamil. And i am very poor in English,At first mylotting is very difficult for me ,but now it is very helpful for me to learn English.I think i am improving day by day.
@snam23 (3157)
• United States
11 Jan 09
I think your English is very good for someone who's first language is not English. I think you must have improved a lot. Happy mylotting!
@akiira (97)
• Australia
11 Jan 09
I live in Australia and English is the only language I can speak, so yes, it's my first and only language. Yes, your English is indeed very good. I recently saw a Korean variety show (Unbelievable Outing) and the people on the show had such terrible English. xD I think that the schools in many countries offer English it as a course. I always seem to see people learning to speak English in anime and manga.
@snam23 (3157)
• United States
11 Jan 09
Thank you for the compliment! Yes, Koreans are not very good at English. I lived in America for 9 years so it is only expected of me to have such good English. That is very interesting that they would learn it in anime and stuff. Here in Korea, we learn English as part of school but also take tutors and stuff but the tutors are not any better than the students. That is why English is so valuable here in Korea. I go to an international school so I do not really know what they learn in Korean schools. Happy mylotting!
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
13 Jan 09
It is my second language but most people in Malta are able to talk and write in English as well. malta was a british colony in the past years when we gained our independence in the 1960's. Thus most maltese have close link with the english language. (c) ronaldinu 2009 - the more people I meet-the more I love my dog
@kellys3ps (3723)
• United States
13 Jan 09
English is my first language.
@badzvenom (102)
• Philippines
11 Jan 09
No, but I think I speak and write in English well enough. I believe it is mandatory for everyone to be able to read, write and speak in English since it is the primary language used in the internet. Internet is my main source of information whether at work or socializing (chatting, emailing, etc.) which is why it is usual for me to use English.
• India
11 Jan 09
As I am from india my first language is hindi. I talk in my house and with my friend in hindi language whereas if i have to told in english in school or any other place than I talk in english. But nowdays English language is compulsary in every place so I practice my english in mylot by posting and discussion. That is bonus for us.
@JummyTao (265)
• China
11 Jan 09
Yeah,i think enlish is important during my daily life.But in my country english it isn't the first language and my mother-language is Chinese.Maybe you like China and want to learn it.I think i can help you. But in my daily life and daily work,my office language is english.And there are lot i should learn and improve my english language.Happy mylotting
@xnekox (97)
• Australia
11 Jan 09
nope, my first oral language would be cantonese, because i was born n lived in HK for about 3 years before i moved over to Australia. But since i moved over when i was three, i did not really get to learn chinese writting, so i am really bad at it reading and writing chinese, but i can still speak cantonese fluently. I am very fluent in English, that is, i can read and write, and it is the language i use to communicate with others the most.
@snam23 (3157)
• United States
11 Jan 09
That is very similar to me. I moved to the US from Korea when I was very little so I do not speak Korean as well especially the writing and reading. I can speak well enough and am very fluent in English. That was a very interesting response.