How do you define a native speaker?

Molly · Wed Mar 12, 2008 12:24 pm *How do you define a native speaker?*

And he is an advanced (second language) speaker of English.

So, do you think he could ever become classed as a native-speaker of English?

Torsten · Wed Mar 12, 2008 12:38 pm *How do you define a native speaker?*

Ralf has already answered this question.

Jamie (K) · Wed Mar 12, 2008 12:47 pm *How do you define a native speaker?*

Molly · Wed Mar 12, 2008 13:07 pm *How do you define a native speaker?*

Torsten · Wed Mar 12, 2008 13:07 pm *How do you define a native speaker?*

Hi Jamie,

I agree with you. There are quite a number of non-native speakers who have reached a tremendous level of success in various fields. Some of them are Arnold Schwarzenegger, Roland Emmerich and Jerry Yang.

However, as far as I can tell all of them learned English by listening to American English speakers. As soon as they moved to the US or even before they surrounded themselves with people whose English either standard US American or very close to it. I don't think they did that because they wanted to learn "American English". They did it because they wanted to realize their goals.
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Molly · Wed Mar 12, 2008 13:11 pm *How do you define a native speaker?*

Torsten · Wed Mar 12, 2008 13:12 pm *How do you define a native speaker?*

I wouldn't use any of these terms because they don't say much about the person.
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Jamie (K) · Wed Mar 12, 2008 13:14 pm *How do you define a native speaker?*

Molly · Wed Mar 12, 2008 13:18 pm *How do you define a native speaker?*

Torsten · Wed Mar 12, 2008 13:29 pm *How do you define a native speaker?*

Molly · Wed Mar 12, 2008 13:32 pm *How do you define a native speaker?*

Ralf · Thu Mar 13, 2008 1:24 am *How do you define a native speaker?*

ched133 · Thu Mar 13, 2008 1:56 am *How do you define a native speaker?*

Hello everyone

In my opinion, a native English speaker is just someone whoes first language is English. A native speaker doesn't mean he/she can speak the standard language in anyway. In the U.S., most companies much rather have a non-native speaker who can speak properly and professionally than just any native speaker from the street. However, in other countries, especially Asian countries, companies put lots of emphasis on hiring native speakers (or close to it) because of the perception that they can speak more fluently and naturally.

It is fair to say that a native speaker can speak his/her native language more fluently and this is very desirable for many International employers. I do understand your question about the definition.

When i went back to Asia last summer, I saw many Americans teaching English and could not able to explain the basic grammar rules. They just say that this way sounds better and that way sounds bad.

I'm not a native English speaker (as you could probably tell) but I do believe that I communicate at a level where people can understand me effectively. However, my struggle is that i can never speak as "fluently" as those native speakers.

To answer your question, a native English speaker is someone who started off with the English language and predominately the same language throughout his/her childhood.

On a separate note, I do believe most educated native average English speakers do speak more fluently (more naturally and perhaps more standard) than most educated non-native advanced speakers of English.

Just my opinion.....thoughts are welcomed.

underdog · Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:37 am *Native*

Molly · Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:39 am *How do you define a native speaker?*

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