Elementaire, mon cher Watson

BK1 (6 last month) and BK2 are playing playdough in the garden. Conversation is flowing... in English.
Me, slightly annoyed: "lebnett? waaĺah rakoum tahadrou en Anglais?" (Girls, why are you speaking in English?)
BK1: "Parceque both BK2 ou anaya kounna born in England" (Because both BK2 and me were born in England).
Doh.

In the Park

BK2 again.
We are in the park, gorgeous weather as anyone in England can tell you. We have been basking in perfect summer time for the last week.
My friend F is here with her three girls, along with her friend A with her two boys. The BK's don't know the boys. But as children do, they seem to have known each other all their lives after 15 minutes.
One of the boys, D aged 8, is playing with BK2. I come over, ask BK2 to stay with the older kids, away from the water. I start moving away.
D: "Do you speak French?"
BK2 ( a surprised look on her face): "No, I speak English" - implying, what? can you not tell?
I can tell you D has an even more surprised look on his face.

Grandads speak different languages

BK2, who turned 3 in Februray -
The following conversation occurred at Gymnastics class. A little girl C is accompanied to the class by her granddad.
BK2: "Maman, c'est le papa de C?" (Mum, is this C's dad?)
Me: "Non, c'est son papy" (No, it's her granddad)
Later, we are in the car park about to leave. BK2 spots C's granddad van.
BK2: "Le papy de C parle en Anglais." (C's granddad speaks English)
Me: "Oui ..." (Yes...)
Me after 1/2 a sec pause: "Kifach yehdar papy taa'ek?" (How does your papy speak?)
BK2: "En Francais. Parfois aussi Anglais." (French and Arabic, sometimes English)
Me: "Ah bon? wach iqoul en Anglais?" (Really? What does he say in English?)
BK2: "Hello."
Conclusion: Papy's speak different languages. 

Bilingual Carnival March Edition

It's Bilingual Carnival time again!

Head over to Multilingual Mama for this month's fun and remarkable blog articles on raising children in multi lingual environments.

Updated Family Language Diagram

It's been a long time but here comes the updated language diagram, now with BK3!

BK1 & BK2 both speak English by default, except when they talk about what they play, which they still do in Arabic. They also speak German and French when the situation is right. The mix a lot when they speak with us, and even when they don't, the grammar more often than not is English.

It is called "majority language" for a reason. *sigh*

BK3 obviously doesn't speak so far. The girls will address her in whatever language is appropriate. They will speak Arabic with her if she is with Babelmum and German if she is with me. If BK3 is alone they will use whatever language first crosses their minds, I think.

We need more holidays in Algeria and Germany, I guess. Or more visitors.