Correct meaning of "Native Speaker"

[Tom]

Hi

I have been using the term native speaker without knowing its full meaning! :shock:

Native speaker is the one whose native language is English, wheather he is from England, America, Australia etc. Am I right?

Tom

[Bara]

Hi

Native speaker is a noun that means someone who has spoken a particular language since they were a baby, rather than having learnt it as a child or adult. For instant:
1) All our teachers are native speakers of English.
2) A native-speaker dictionary

Kind Regards
Baraa

[Tamara]

Hi

[Mister Micawber]

.
from Oxford:

native speaker

• noun a person who has spoken the language in question from earliest childhood.

from Encarta:

na·tive speak·er (plural na·tive speak·ers)
noun
Definition:

first-language speaker: a speaker of a language learned in infancy
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Tamara]

OK.
Thanks.
_________________
It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…

[Tom]

[Yankee]

Hi Tom

If you say "native speaker of English", then the "language in question" is English.

Amy
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Tom]

Thanks Amy!

How do the following sentences sound to you? Do they sound like normal Englsih to you?

1- My friend was born in India. By the way, he is a native speaker of English.

2- Although Benezir Bhutto was born in Pakistan, she is a native speaker of Englsih!

Tom

[Yankee]

Your sentences sound fine, Tom, but I think your keyboard must be giving you some trouble this evening (Englsih). :lol: ;)
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Bara]

Hi Tamara;

The Definition I provided recently is from Cambridge Dictionary. As far as I am concerned; correct me if I am WRONG; Native Speaker in general is the mother tong language.

Tamara Wrote:

“I remember how one good guy, a professional programmer, once said – seriously - "You know, my native language is C++".”

In my own opinion; when your friend said “my native language “, he implied his talents in C++ program language.

Always willing to hear from ya
Baraa