Native speakers

Subject: Native speakers Tue Mar 31, 2009 4:04 am

I was just curious, how many of us are native English speakers? I know both me and iMazed are Dutch, but other then that, I see a lot of American's, the occasional Canadian and Uker, AKA a lot of native speakers.

Just a small addition; I'm jealous of you guys. I am currently studying hard to become a "Near Native Speaker" (IB English A2), but no matter how hard I study, I'll never become a native speaker confused

Subject: Re: Native speakers Tue Mar 31, 2009 4:48 am

CG, you really shouldn't be jealous! You are fantastic with your usage of English - much, much better than I can imagine being with another language. Imazed as well really surprised me when I found out she wasn't a native speaker. As far as I'm concerned both of you put me to shame.

If it helps I'll PM you if I consistently see you using a wrong word (usually it's just that the tense doesn't fit the sentence or something small like that) but really you just get applause from here for how fluent you already are.

*adds a large plate of cookies to this thread*

Subject: Re: Native speakers Tue Mar 31, 2009 5:25 am

*grabs one of the cookies*

Not as much jealous about the use of cookies (typo that was simply to funny to correct) ...ehrm, I mean, use of English, but rather the fact I will never reach the Native status Razz

Not that I don't enjoy the compliment tho (although I'm pretty sure the whole 'putting you to shame' part is very exaugurated, seeing how you're an excelent writer yourself)

As for the PM, I always welcome such things. it's kind of a grey area; people usualy don't tell me, because they are afraid I'll be offended, and at the same time, I'm afraid to ask Razz

Subject: Re: Native speakers Tue Mar 31, 2009 5:29 am

Ha! Well, now that I know I will be fearless. Wink

And thank you for that very nice compliment as well.

Subject: Re: Native speakers Tue Mar 31, 2009 6:20 am

Yup, used English from birth, and I wish I would have learned French, too, since we're a 'bilingual' country.

And yup, CG, I was indeed rather surprised to learn that English wasn't your first language! You do very well with it! Better, even than many native speakers I've seen.

Subject: Re: Native speakers Tue Mar 31, 2009 6:42 am

Yep I'm going to have to agree with everyone else I would never have guessed English wasn't your first language.

Subject: Re: Native speakers Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:31 am

One more voice to the chorus. I don't know about how well you speak English, but you write better than many of the people I go to college with. No joke.

Subject: Re: Native speakers Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:39 am

Yes, I am, believe it or not haha.

Subject: Re: Native speakers Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:59 am

Another native speaker here! I think I do somewhat understand what you mean, CG, as I feel a bit that way about speaking French (though I don't speak French half so fluently as you speak English.) But honestly you speak the language so fluently no one would know you weren't a native speaker.

Honestly, some of the things I see/hear actual native speakers come out with makes me despair at times. So really, I think there's something to be said about learning a language as a second tongue - you spend more time consciously learning the rules of grammar, spelling and punctuation and often end up speaking the language far better for it. So I really wouldn't worry Wink