Is your primary (first) language the main language of the place where you now live?

Question

If you answered D, please tell me in a comment how much of your time is involved talking to other people who speak your primary language.

I am living with my girlfriend who came to the US from China in 1992. I do not speak Mandarin or any of the regional Chinese languages. EVERY night, Ms. Helen is on the phone talking with friends in Mandarin, and there are only three things I know in Mandarin:

1. Nǐ hǎo (hello),
2. Wǒ ài nǐ (I love you), and
3. Nǐ fēngle ma? (Have you lost your mind?)

so I don't understand any part of the conversation after they say "hello!" This constant barrage of Mandarin jibberjabber with her friends is taxing on me!

SaoirseS · Accepted Answer

I was born and raised in the Midwest USA, so English is my first language. My mom was born and raised in Japan; she occasionally speaks with her mom by phone in Japanese, but I don’t understand any of it.

Blonde401 · Accepted Answer

My mother is Dutch and speaks Dutch to family members on the phone. It’s never bothered me

SecretsofKB · Answer

I live in the Midwest US. English is my first language.

The city I live in though, draws so many people from around the world due to the University we have here. I can go for a 30 minute walk downtown and hear at least 5-10 different languages.

musicbrain5 · Answer

C - I was born in the US, but raised in and continuing to live in Canada. English all around. I do speak French, and little bits and pieces of Russian. Unfortunately, my parents, especially my dad, never made it a priority to speak Russian in the house, and I never made an effort to learn it properly.

I can relate to you in the second half of your post. My husband is Serbian - I do know some basic phrases. When he’s chatting with his family or friends on the phone or online, I don’t understand anything past “hello, how are you”, however I find it very attractive to listen to him speak his own language.

NathanDavis · Answer

my case might be a bit particular... born in the USA, Texas border with Mexico, but my first language was Spanish while living in the US, studying in Mexico... it was only till elementary or so when I started to speak English on my own accord and because I wanted not exactly because I needed it

nothing much has changed ever since... I still lived, studied, worked, made a life with friends and family, started a business, have houses on both sides of the border and I use both English and Spanish at a fairly similar rate, and also on both sides of the border... and that just how life can go at this particular corner of the world

as of lately, my main residence is on the Mexican side of the border, where I speak Spanish the most because of daily activities, but business is mostly in English and that, to me.. and to most people around here is just the normal life

TransAm85 · Answer

I was born and raised in Wisconsin, but I would like to speak fluent Spanish. I know the basics such as numbers, colors, food, greetings, and a lot of slang. I have been to Mexico and didn't have a problem with basic conversations, but it was still frustrating to me that I couldn't speak to my in laws. Spanish isn't that hard to learn, but when you get older, you have to really concentrate on learning a language. I took Spanish for 3 years when I was in middle school so that's why I still remember the basics. When we are kids, we are like sponges! We get older, it's a little harder to remember and that really stinks. lol

andreasderjuengere · Answer

I can't be bothered to learn my hosting country's language - other than basic phrases. Why would I waste time and effort studying a language to only talk with others about banalities? The average (or common) Thai is quite... uneducated.
I rarely use my native language - German - and English now is primary language to me.
This way, I have assurance that my conversation partners (at work, and privately) meet my minimum intelligence (or educational) requirements.

The Missus of course communicates often (and sometimes excessively :D ) with our surrounding.
To not be fully excluded from this social interaction, I throw in a ''Kap'' comment every now and then (It's a local non-word that indicates friendliness/politeness, lack of thoughts, and general agreement).

spartan55 · Answer

It is. I work in a facility with @500 employees, 3 shifts, 6 days/week. We have strong diversity. 39 different countries are represented last I checked. Anyway, I feel increasingly embarrassed that most immigrants are fluent in at least 2, and sometimes up to 5 different languages. The American public school system is so inferior it's shocking.

SweetFyter · Answer

Yeah, I'm stuck with English - but I'd LOVE to move to Switzerland where it's NOT the main language. I guess the part of Switzerland where I'd move to would determine the main language there. I believe they use Deutsch, Français and Italiano! I can be packed in twenty minutes...

dontgetafemalecanine · Answer

Im Asian. The first language introduced to me and my siblings was English. When I was living with fam, I was speaking a mixed of Canto, English, Mando.

Currently, I know a little korean coz my girlfriend is obsessed (yea a very little) about kpop and oppa and stuff.

I really enjoyed your 3). you crazy? feng le ma haha

Chlo3_2001 · Answer

English is my first language and is the most commonly used language where I am (Australia). Statistically, in Australia, English is the first language spoken in 73% of homes, meaning 27% of people in Australia use another language first at home. Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Italian and Greek being the other most commonly used languages. 😊😊

lightbulb27 · Answer

haha... I have never heard "have you lost your mind", but then again, I can't translate it either:)

I kinda like the jibber jabber.

I'm now getting Spanish and french and soon italian. It's a melting pot here...

purplepoppy · Answer

It varies a lot from town to town. Some villages in the north are predominantly welsh while in other towns you'll only ever hear English. Most have a mix as shown by the shades of green on the map. A lots influenced by migration, tourism and even old tribal boundaries.
The problem with the map though is it's done by asking people if they speak welsh and the government is so keen to up the figures they'll accept knowing a few phrases as qualifying you as a welsh speaker.
Quite often you'll get divides within families between husbands and wives. Children naturally pick up the language spoken by friends so it's not unusual for parents to not be able to understand their own kids when they're chatting chatting with friends.

Anonymous · Answer

I moved to a neighbouring country like ~5 years ago, and there is another primary language, so D for me.
I still expose myself to a lot from my home country. Like listen to the radio, read news and fiction. Talk with friends and family and have visit now and then. 2-3 times a week I talk with them.

innerman · Answer

If your a foreigner, its very nice meeting people who speak your language. And that language barrier forces you to be friends with problem who understand you and you will find it hard and tiresome forcing a conversation with people you don’t share a language with

Jaximus-Lion · Answer

I am from Iraq originaly, i do speak arabic but my main language is syriac (neo aramic). I live in Sweden and i speak Swedish most of the time (the Mrs is swedish) but i use both swedish and syriac on daily basis.

Bratsondanielle · Answer

I mean if we agree American is the language of America where the Americans live sometimes it seems like certain groups who didn't help build the country thinks its Mexican

thatkendy · Answer

Yes and no
I live in luxembourg and my native languague us luxembourgish but the main language in luxembourg is french since we have the "napoléon law"
But you do need basic conversational luxembourgish to change your nationality.

Dinklex3 · Answer

Currently living in Korea (just for 2 years). I can understand a little, but I can't quite speak it yet. A lot of Koreans are good with English and theyre very sweet.

Angelo75 · Answer

I live in another country than my main language.
At the moment i only speak in my main language for about 30% of the time.
Lots of the friends that i have speak the native language of the country that i live in.

CarolineW · Answer

I think it's only polite to have a try at the language when you visit another country. I travel to France a fair bit with my job, and always try to speak the basics, like booking into a hotel, for example, in French. My french is rubbish, but they appreciate it when I try, and I definitely get much better service.

sunflower00 · Answer

I live in the UK and I speak English, but I am trying to learn other languages. Focusing on Swedish right now

Is your primary (first) language the main language of the place where you now live?

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