Language and Personality Revisited

More than a year ago I wondered whether Lilia & Ines would have "split personalities" based on language like I do. My guess was they wouldn't and I closed saying "we will have to ask them one day."

I have now done the next best thing: I have asked my colleague Nicolas who grew up in an OPOL/MLaH setting similar to ours: German mother, French father, born in Finland.

His answer: he does not see any difference between his German-speaking and French-speaking self.

He picked up Swedish, English and Spanish later, and he does feel differences when he speaks those languages.

The real question is: while my daughters won't be different when they speak another language, will they notice that I am? And will they use that knowledge? Will they use German when they ask a favour?

English Verbs are Taking Over

Lilia has lately shown a tendency to use english verbs when she speaks with me. In an otherwise perfectly german sentence, she will use the english verb, normally properly conjugated the german way.

Isn't that strange?

P.S.: this article is from April but somehow it slipped through. It still applies, though.