German Chancellor's Russian daughter
Will the German Chancellor's adopted Russian daughter Viktoria be raised learning and speaking German from now on or will she be tutored in both languages? Can her adoptive parents speak Russian or do they intend to learn it as part of their daughter's cultural background and identity? Is a language entirely forgotten if it is abandoned at a very young age? What difficulties are characteristic for a Russian learning German? (How do Russians feel about the adoption?) Twenty questions I know but it's interesting.....
German Chancellor's Russian Daughter
I agree that a child's peers would have more influence over them than their parents and a child that moves to another country will very quickly become as fluent as their peers. It has been remarked that it probably depends on the age of the child as to how 'natural' they become in that language. But - Vending Machine - is it really the case that Viktoria knows very little of her own native language at 3 years old? She & other 3 year olds will know quite a lot - at this age she understands a huge amount of spoken language. I don't agree there's 'not much to forget'. I do agree that she will forget it quickly though. :wink:
Re: German Chancellor's Russian Daughter
Quote:
Originally Posted by irisheyes
But - Vending Machine - is it really the case that Viktoria knows very little of her own native language at 3 years old? She & other 3 year olds will know quite a lot - at this age she understands a huge amount of spoken language. I don't agree there's 'not much to forget'.
Just about how much Russian would a 3 y.o. know? Кот написал. Three year olds don't know how to communicate effectively. They make stupid mistakes in their Russian all the time. Their vocabulary is quite limited. My nextdoor neighbour's daughter - she's just turned five and she speaks very little Russian. At 3 y.o. all they can do is pick poo out of their spotty bottoms and thuck their filthy thumbs and then puke all over your best clothes. I once forgot a language - votjakki - at the ripe old age of seven, so I know what I'm talking about.
German Chancellor's Russian Daughter
OK kid - calm down. Three year olds don't need to communicate effectively (adults do). I'm CLEARLY not talking about what tots say - I'm talking about what they know. Erm...best not let you babysit this weekend then............... :wink: