My first language was German (Donauschwaben-low German dialect)-- but then when I turned 3-- the babysitters couldn’t understand me when I said ‘I have to go to the bathroom’…so it’s been English ever since. I still understand German and can spell/read/write. The grammar is difficult (speaking) but I manage to get by with my relatives in Frankfurt and Salzburg.
Now Hungarian-----Geez. I know just a couple words. Talk about a conspiracy theory. It is in it’s own group right there with Finnish. (The languages are kind of related= Finno-Urgo group).
One thing that is very strange is when I do speak German-- I speak it with a Hungarian accent-- go figure. My mom laughs at me b/c I sound like a Hungarian speaking German. Possibly from my Dad’s influence when he would speak German.
I’m first generation. My parents came to the US in 1969 with my older sister from Czechoslovakia. Quite a story on how they managed to “escape”, I’m hoping to write it down in book form some day.
I speak fluent Czech, can read and write it but have trouble with grammar. Now that I don’t live with my parents anymore its easier to forget but anytime I’m home by dad freaks if I speak English to him!
I totally plan on having my children speak Czech so they can communicate with their relatives. That is, if I ever have children but that’s another post. :
