Baby Language Issues
July 13th, 2006 by quaisiIf you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
I find it easier to talk to Isabelle in Japanese than in English. This is a very dangerous avenue to go down as she needs no help listening to Japanese with it surrounding her and myself being the only native English speaker she comes into contact with.
It`s partly because I feel less silly saying “What`s the matter baby Bill?” in Japanese than in English. Without wishing to offend Japanese, it`s a better language than English to talk babyish in just as Russian is a far better language to have an argument in, French is a great language to talk romantically in and Welsh is the best way to cover your foe in phlegm should you so wish.
It`s very hard. Even if I talk English to her I get her to agree with me in Japanese. Of course I don`t have in depth conversations about the human condition with her but tell her it`s hot isn`t it or ask her how she is or just berate her for not being able to control her bowel functions when I`m trying to sleep.
Thanks to the long hours of my job, I`m only around her for a short time anyway and when I do we converse I monologue in Japanese when she should be listening to English. I`ve read on forums of how children born of English and Japanese parents often can understand English but can`t or don`t want to speak it. Whether that is because of the difficulty in learning two languages concurrently or a desire not to speak it I do not know.
Posted in Baby, Japan, Life in Japan |
July 14th, 2006 at 1:22 am
I believe it is far easier for children to learn two languages from birth than to learn one later on in life. Something to do with their neural pathways still being formed.
July 14th, 2006 at 1:34 am
it’s hard to learn japanese and english because the tongue work is different. Speak more English to her. And just as a note, stop baby-talk. According to many geniuses’ parents, they dont do baby talk but speak normally. It helps the baby.
But constant exposure to a language from birth helps a child to pick it up
July 14th, 2006 at 8:18 am
I am just laughing way over here in the US!
July 14th, 2006 at 9:40 am
Hi, hi. My first comment here. It’s definitely a good idea to speak English to your kid. Even if she doesn’t use it that often, she will get an understanding of it. And be able to pick it up much more easily later if/when she wants to.
July 14th, 2006 at 10:41 am
The other commenters are correct; it’s far easier to learn a second or third or fourth or Nth language when you’re a child. The cutoff date is somewhere around puberty. There are, of course, exceptions, but in general this is the rule. Teaching Isabelle English now will help ensure her fluency in the language.
As far as a reason why a child of Japanese and English parents might not want to speak the language, I’m betting it’s a social thing. The average Japanese person has fairly low English skills. Anyone who is proficient will be noticed. And then people will ask “Why do you speak English so well?” and when they learn about the English parent they will think/say, “Oh, it’s because you’re different.”
I’m sure the kids just want to fit in.
July 16th, 2006 at 6:36 pm
Cheers for the suggestions my good people. I particularly like Amiya`s idea of speaking to her normally instead of coochie coochie coo-speak.
The English school I teach at has the same idea which seems to work. You don`t go up to somebody, put on a big fake smile and shout “HI! HOW. ARE. YOU?” so why do you teach it like that?
From now on I`ll be talking to her (in English) at a normal speed. Besides if she learns Japanese from me, she`s blighted for life…..