What is meant by native Language?

[jenny999]

I am confused about this one because I am Indian by race but I have always spoken English with my parents and have schooled in English too. I know English more that I know my mother tongue ( Gujarati). Infact I do not even know if I can call Gujarati my mother tongue because I hardly speak it. If I was asked I would probably say I am most comfortable speaking in English. I thought native language meant that the language I grew up talking..and that is English. Would English then be my native language?

 

[syedrahman1980]

Dear jenny999
Native language is defined by the origin, not by the fluency. And probably you grown up in India. So your native language is Gujrati or Hindi, although you are more comfortable and more skilled in english language.

Other members can provide opinion.

Thanks.


SYED

 

[Hindu_Sikh_Bro_Bro]

I am confused about this one because I am Indian by race but I have always spoken English with my parents and have schooled in English too. I know English more that I know my mother tongue ( Gujarati). Infact I do not even know if I can call Gujarati my mother tongue because I hardly speak it. If I was asked I would probably say I am most comfortable speaking in English. I thought native language meant that the language I grew up talking..and that is English. Would English then be my native language?

What accent do you speak?

 

[jenny999]

I am indian by race (my ancestors were from india and I am brown) but I was born and have been brought up in Tanzania, Africa. I have never lived in India. I have a British accent because I studied at an international school, went to uni in England and worked over there for a year.

 

[BobbyB]

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/fyi-if-englishfrench-is-not-your-native-language-u-r-required-to-submit-test-t19475.0.html;msg93477#msg93477