Public apology to Dodens
- Thread starter Onder
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Blind Guardian
Member
Not to start shit or anything, but I just want to point out that there's actually no such thing as a "3rd language". People have a first language and one or more second languages. The relevant distinction is between the first language, which we absorb as kids simply by living around, and the second language(s), which is/are learned through studies.
Der Morgenstern
Trailer Park Bacchus
Except that falls to shit when you grow up in a household where more than one language is spoken, especially in your early developmental years.
Chanakya
Orphaned Brother
@ Runk, then I'm pretty sure sevag speaks two "first" languages, exposed to Armenian and Arabic.
Blind Guardian
Member
The distinction is still the same. Any language you receive is a first language, and any language you learn by study is a second language. The sole point in sevag's excuse should be that English is not a language he received as a kid (as opposed to Armenian and Arabic). How many languages he happens to know apart from English is irrelevant in this context.
Chanakya
Orphaned Brother
You're right about that. What about those who are useless at conversing in their own first language? Damn it, JAGEagent is away.
Der Morgenstern
Trailer Park Bacchus
No, the distinction is not the same. It is entirely possible to go through life, having grown up in a certain fashion, to have a dominant first language, a second language that was picked up in almost the same manner as the first language, and then exposed to other language outside of the early formative years, either via study or through immersing oneself in a new culture where the language is spoken.
Thus, it is entirely possible to have a third language. You don't start lumping every other language you know into an all-encompassing second category "Second Languages" just because they all come after an initial first language. This completely ignored varying competency levels that an individual has with those languages.
Blind Guardian
Member
That is EXACTLY what you do.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_language
Anyway, this isn't even the point. The point is that knowledge of one language can't have a negative impact on knowledge of another language, unless we are talking about L1 and L2. What matters is how a language is picked up, and there are only two scenarios in which languages can be picked up.
Moreover, immersement in another culture only counts as a motivational factor for L2 acquisition. That is, you'll still have to study the language in order to learn it, as anything else becomes virtually impossible once you've hit puberty.
The Ozzman
Melted by feels
Seriously. If you think money is gay, I will take whatever money you have off your hands and be more of a flamer than before.
mutantllama
Active Member
Der Morgenstern
Trailer Park Bacchus
That is EXACTLY what you do.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_language
Anyway, this isn't even the point. The point is that knowledge of one language can't have a negative impact on knowledge of another language, unless we are talking about L1 and L2. What matters is how a language is picked up, and there are only two scenarios in which languages can be picked up.
Moreover, immersement in another culture only counts as a motivational factor for L2 acquisition. That is, you'll still have to study the language in order to learn it, as anything else becomes virtually impossible once you've hit puberty.
That wasn't even up for debate. I don't know why you're babbling on about it.
Sevag stated that because English is not his native language, he is prone to make mistakes at it. It's a fair enough statement. It's not his L1. He did not say that his knowledge of Armenian harms his knowledge of English.
I'll excuse you for arguing for no reason because English is obviously an L2 for you.
Blind Guardian
Member
Matt
Active Member
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