ABSTRACT

Others may be full of admiration for these children who get a second language ‘for free’.

Young children are not usually embarrassed by this kind of interest, although they probably will not want to be the object of attention. At some point children become aware that they have two languages and that this is not usual. Sometimes children in their continuous trial and error striving to make sense of the way of the world will come up with odd theories. Anders (3;0) asked if all Mummies speak English, and was quite fascinated by a male visitor from England; he had assumed that men just do not speak English, at least not to children! By the same token, it can be difficult for a parent used to speaking his or her native language to children to switch to the majority language to speak to the children next door.