I am Canadian and my hubby is of Egyptian descent. He grew up speaking French and Arabic and I grew up speaking English while learning French in school. When we got pregnant we decided that I would speak to Jr. in English, he would speak to her in French and his parents would speak to her in Arabic. I look at how knowing three languages has helped my husband and I want the same, if not more, for my daughter. I know that in the end it will all come together but right now I wonder how long it will delay her speaking abilities. Each morning after I read her a couple of stories, I sing the alphabet and then count... in 3 different languages. I try to say them in the same tone so that she understands they mean the same thing.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten!
Un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf, dix!
Wahed, itneen, taletta, arbaha, hamsa, seta, sahba, tamania, taessa, achara!
Yesterday we visited my in-laws and as usual Teta (grandma) and Guedo (grandpa) spoke to her in Arabic, daddy in French and me in English. I can't help but wonder if she's monumentally confused or if she just goes along with the sound and tone of our voices. At least she knows her own name, which doesn't change regardless of which language you say it in!
My friend AD said her little sister grew up with French, English and Spanish and that while she still wasn't speaking properly when she was three, she eventually mastered each one of them. This is what I want for Jr. but I know that until it happens, I won't enjoy having to explain to people why she can't speak yet like other kids her age.
And then I think, what if she speaks Arabic to my parents or with people who won't understand? If I tell her to speak in English or in French or whatever, will she comply? Or worse, what if she uses Arabic with me, who only understands the basics?? She'll be telling me off and I won't have a clue. I know, I know, I need to learn more Arabic!
Actually, this is the perfect opportunity. She's learning simple words now so when I hear my mother-in-law or father-in-law say a word I don't know, I'll ask them to repeat it and explain it. Or, if they're giving her an orange, let's say, I'll say it to Jr. in English and then in French and then ask them how to say it in Arabic. (It's portocali.)
The other thing that kind of bothers/worries me is that she won't master any one language. I know quite a few people who pepper their sentences with a mixture of different languages. They have difficulty with grammar and such when writing in English. So while's it's awesome she'll speak and hopefully write in three languages, I still want her to speak proper English, proper French and proper Arabic. But maybe that's asking too much.
So if you meet a little girl who's trying to talk to you in a smattering of English, French and Arabic, it's probably Jr!
C'est BON!!!! :)
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