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?

  • Caveman@lemmy.world
    14·
    20 days ago

    It depends on whether you treat the answer as “like a native” or “I am a native”. The word native is etymologically rooted in “born into it”.

    To sum up: You can speak a second language better than a native and have a proficiency of a native speaker without being a native speaker of the language.