What is your first language?

[Averdris]

Just curious to know what your first language was and how you learned english. How did you put your words together when trying to speak english?

For example: First language is French. I would say 'no please' when I was offered a drink instead of saying 'no thankyou' speaking in english that is

 

[Steph]

Then you first language is not French.
French would say "Non merci", not "Non s'il vous plait"

 

[aaglo]

1st language for me was Finnish.

At first it was difficult to use the correct third-person statement: he / her (and even now sometimes I make that mistake). We do not separate genders in the third persons like low-context languages do.

 

[Averdris]

Then you first language is not French.
French would say "Non merci", not "Non s'il vous plait"

yes of course thats what I mean. I learned english wrong thats what i'm saying. should of cleared that up for you.

 

[Heretic_Cata]

First language : Romanian
Learned english by : watching cartoons 12 hours/day without subtitles when i was a kid
It was worth it

Did 7 years of german at school - that doesn't mean i'm too good...
4 years of french - which i hate (no offence )

And i want to learn latin in the near future...

 

[thetrooper]

First language: Norwegian.
Still learning English.

 

[Twonky]

My first language is german. I learned english in school, but even more so by playing Ultima V and Civ I a lot.
I used to say "please" instead of "you´re welcome" a long time ago, since "bitte" is used for both in german. :shakehead

 

[Steph]

yes of course thats what I mean. I learned english wrong thats what i'm saying. should of cleared that up for you.

The OP hints to the opposite of what you want to say, I think

 

[Abaddon]

English is my first and only language.. it amazed me the rest of europe, if not the world has little difficultly learning multiple languages.. i couldnt learn french to save my life!

 

[Steph]

Well, first language is French.
I learnt English through, in chronological order:
- A wargame (Advanced Squad Leader), with MASSIVE rules not available in French
- Role Playing Game
- Video games badly translated in French -> always buy the English version
- Reading book in English
- Watching movies in English.

 

[Steph]

i couldnt learn french to save my life!

You should learn some martial arts or have some first aid training. It's more efficient to save your life than French.

 

[Reno]

1st language for me was Finnish.

At first it was difficult to use the correct third-person statement: he / her (and even now sometimes I make that mistake). We do not separate genders in the third persons like low-context languages do.

The same here with the exception of me not making that mistake again.

 

[MaisseArsouye]

My first languages are french and walloon.

I learned english at school.

 

[FlyHard]

First language: Danish
In Denmark we start learning English in school at the age of 10.
But even though we start at an early age, some people seem to have a hard time figuring out the English language.

 

[willemvanoranje]

First language: Dutch

.. and I can't remember ever not speaking english.. or german.. and I find it hard to imagine life without any of the other languages I speak.

 

[diablodelmar]

My first lingo is English, second is Español, becasue i used to live in Spain.

 

[classical_hero]

First language: Danish
In Denmark we start learning English in school at the age of 10.
But even though we start at an early age, some people seem to have a hard time figuring out the English language.

English is my native language and I still have a hard time figuring it out.

 

[Adebisi]

I cant remember having much problems - perhaps with the spelling of some odd words such as "though".

 

[Chukchi Husky]

Silence is my native language.

 

[bhsup]

English.

However, I am beginning to hold the opinion that there are sufficient difference between the British and American dialects that we should just stop calling it English and call it American. For one thing, we wouldn't have to listen to the British complaining about us butchering the 'English' language.