Observations on the language development of my children. Native English mother, Native Swedish Father. Home language: English, school language: Swedish.

Monday, January 19, 2009

raising fluent sweglish speakers

Conventional terminology would label my children bilingual. I'd like to argue that before they achieve true bilingualism they will be fluent Swenglish speakers with an ability to put the emphasis of English or Swedish on their language usage at will.

I'm not only enjoying the humor of listening to the Swenglish constructions of my 4.year old's speech, but when analyzing it it makes me contemplate language acquisition for all of us. These little sponge-brains are fascinating to observe.

I don't know what this blog will become, but I thought I would start archiving the little-studied Swenglish language as spoken by my son (b. June 2004) and daughter (b. June 2007), X and K.

X: "I dropped my ba*LANCE" (emphasis on second syllable) = tapade balansen = lost my balance. (autumn 2008)

X: "I can troll this" = I can do magic (Christmas 2008)

X: "I'm bläddring [through the pages]" = I'm flipping through pages (January 2009)

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