Is it surprising to see Asians that can't speak their "own" language?

[kyrax12]

Apparently, I been hearing of people getting quite shock at Asian people that can't speak their "mother" tongue. I don't know why they would be shock since there are some Asians that are born in countries that are not their ancestral homeland.

For example, I am American. Asian American. Most Asian Americans I have met can't speak their "mother" tongue, and that is perfectly understandable. Even though the U.S don't have an official language, English is regarded as one by many people, so that is what people learn when they are first born in the U.S.

But it seems that there are people that don't understand this. I know some Whites that can't speak their mother tongue, and people don't seem to get shock over it.

 

[BoberFett]

Haha, next you're going to tell me that you don't all know karate too.

 

[lxskllr]

I've never seen that. If someone had an accent I'd be surprised if they couldn't speak the language, but otherwise I assume nothing, and haven't seen others make assumptions.

 

[Printer Bandit]

if asian american born in the US, it's easier to understand your "own" language than speak it.

 

[jhu]

你火燒死吧。

 

[dighn]

lolwutever. next you are gonna tell me african american can't speak african.

anyway i think that just stems from a lack of interaction with asian americans. i know plenty of asian canadians who can't speak their "native tongue" or speak it very poorly.

also I think there's this stereotype that asians tend to be very traditional and highly protective of their heritage, which is true to some extent, but not to the degree suggested by such stereotypes.

 

[Newbian]

lolwutever. next you are gonna tell me african american can't speak african.

Or whites can't speak whiteonese.

 

[Bacstar]

When I moved here from the Philippines with my parents back in the 70's, my parents decided not to each us the language and only speak English when they were around me and my sisters. When we got older, we asked them why and their response, we wanted to Americanize use so you would fit in better. Kind of regret it now, but it's not a big deal. Any time we go visit the Philippines, most people speak English anyways so it hasn't been a problem.

 

[IronWing]

I'm an old guy but I can still speak the language of today's hip youth. Paper or plastic?

 

[T9D]

You grew up in America? I'm surprised you don't speak Spanish

 

[Ns1]

Not really, I'm first gen Asian American and can speak my native tongue well enough to get by at restaurants. But I can't watch news or read the paper...

In my experience, most 2nd-3rd gen Asian Americans can't speak their native tongue, unless they pick up the family business

 

[dbk]

wow..

 

[chubbyfatazn]

I can hold small talk/conversation, but beyond that there's no guarantee. The fact that the spoken and written versions of my language vary makes it that much more difficult to learn how to read/write.

I also speak with a heavy accent. But that usually doesn't get in the way of me getting my point across, unless I accidentally substitute one word for another due to the fact we've got 9 fucking intonations.

My parents only talk to me in English. They actually have no accent when they speak English. It's only when I respond back in our mother tongue that they start speaking it as well, though.

 

[nCred]

Yea, it's kind of surprising that so few asians can speak asianese. Most latino people speak mexicano fluently.

 

[PottedMeat]

When I moved here from the Philippines with my parents back in the 70's, my parents decided not to each us the language and only speak English when they were around me and my sisters. When we got older, we asked them why and their response, we wanted to Americanize use so you would fit in better. Kind of regret it now, but it's not a big deal. Any time we go visit the Philippines, most people speak English anyways so it hasn't been a problem.

my parents didn't bother, just toss in some tagalog in english sentences and the reverse lol.


i've had random hispanic lookin people ask me if i speak spanish

 

[Ns1]

my parents didn't bother, just toss in some tagalog in english sentences and the reverse lol.


i've had random hispanic lookin people ask me if i speak spanish

hard to tell sometimes if filipinos are flip or mexican, esp. with last names like "Cruz"

 

[4eigner]

I think it all depends on how the person grew up. I moved to the US when I was 10 and my parents didn't want me to speak my native language (Tagalog). So, I ended up having no discernible accent when I speak English, but my Tagalog is terrible.

 

[4eigner]

hard to tell sometimes if filipinos are flip or mexican, esp. with last names like "Cruz"

I have been mistaken as a Mexican by Mexicans and the same for Native Americans here in Montana.

 

[Imp]

Some Asian people who think that they'll confuse their kids if they teach them anything but English, so they don't bother or even avoid it -- don't want to risk having an Asian accent in America.

And the rest just don't have many opportunities to use it. This is especially bad because the writing is completely foreign and memory based.

Asian language faculty gone by generation two or three...

 

[yhelothar]

I'm Asian American, and Asian FOBs are always surprised when I start speaking Chinese. Funny how the laws of relativity applies here.

 

[Oyeve]

Me Chinese, me make joke, me make peepee in your coke.

I'm Indonesian. Well, 30% at least. I can only speak the curses.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I am American Born, but, my ancestors are from England, Germany, and Norway. I can speak English. So, I can speak the mother tongue of some of my ancestors.. just with a different accent

 

[SSSnail]

What's more surprising is that you see these FOBs with accent so thick you can scoop it with a ladle, and they pretend they don't speak their native tongues.

I think the failure of the Asians not speaking their native tongues rests squarely on their parents' shoulders. Damn people are so quick to be Americanized. They turn themselves from Asians to B-sians, that's if I'm generous.

 

[kyrax12]

I'm Asian American, and Asian FOBs are always surprised when I start speaking Chinese. Funny how the laws of relativity applies here.

Why were they surprised?

What's more surprising is that you see these FOBs with accent so thick you can scoop it with a ladle, and they pretend they don't speak their native tongues.

I think the failure of the Asians not speaking their native tongues rests squarely on their parents' shoulders. Damn people are so quick to be Americanized. They turn themselves from Asians to B-sians, that's if I'm generous.

I have met Asians that can speak their mother "tongue" and were born in the U.S. Two things I noted.

1. They don't like speaking their mother "tongue"
2. Reason is most likely that they suck at speaking it. I noticed ABAs that speak in an Asian language have a HORRIBLE ACCENT when speaking it. Sort of like how a White person try speaking in an Asian language.

 

[yhelothar]

Why were they surprised?

Apparently they think I'm just American since I mostly speak English, and it's accent free.