Sonumb Kapoor: My first language is English (Loreal ad)

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charminggenie

@charminggenie

Stunner

+ 2

Posted: 11 years ago

#51

Originally posted by: Antlers

Actually, Ill answer this for you. I was born in Gujarat,India. I grew up in Texas. My first language is English. In legal stance, it was always written as English as my first language.

In matter of if I knew any other language, it was always Gujarati as a second language. Proficiency - very low.

If her ethnicity was Punjabi-Sindhi, shouldn't she be speaking one or the other. Because you mentioned her language of Ethnicity... I have no clue what that means though. Because someone from Honduras can speak Spanish, but they can't speak Hondorioun...

@Antler - The citizenship would matter, too. Each country defines it's first language differently. If she said it's my first language of preference I would understand .

In India, ethnicity, region and other factors define first language. Since her passport is Indian , rules will be from the desi land , you know.

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Bazigar

@Bazigar

Voyager

Posted: 11 years ago

#52

Obiviously she is pretentious here while claiming English is first language , she is pitching herself for international audience . The ad. is targeted to international audience and the section of upwardly mobile category of society in india. Its a fashion statement in india itself to claim proficiency in English instead of mother tongue.

she did all her schooling in Arya vidya mandir and even have a degree in bombay university , forget about english in that school sanskrit is compulsory language. So if at all its a English medium , all informal interaction may be hindi.

Her parents are punjabi , so normally people interact with each other the language they are comfortable that is their mother tongue.

She born and brought up in india , did schooling and graduation in local in mumbai.

Edited by Bazigar - 11 years ago

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Khan (from the epiglottis)

@-Mischievous-

Voyager

Posted: 11 years ago

#53

I find it kinda insulting. Being Indian, I take pride in it and the language. You represent India outside of the country especially as a social figure.Saying English is your first language being Indian and being brought up in India has wannabe written all over it. I am born & brought up in Canada yet till this day I say that Hindi & Urdu are my first language.

Anyways, its okay...LOL. I don't expect better from Sonam so it didn't come as a surprise or a disappointment.

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poppy2009

@poppy2009

Rocker

Posted: 11 years ago

#54

If First language and Mother toungue / native language are one and the same, then Sonam is being factually incorrect.

In India and in most Asian countries specifically, when you use the term 'First language' it means the language that refers to the ethinic group that one belongs to. In Sonam's case, it would either be hindi or punjabi. Doesn't matter if you can or cannot speak in the language.

By contrast, Second language is any language that you speak by default and are most comfortable in.

PS: I have applied for my kid's admission to the same school where Sonam went and they have a section where they ask for the child's native toungue / first language and we wrote Hindi, though my son can barely speak in it and is far more comfortable in English.

In fact, UWCSEA has 3% students who are native hindi speakers. (the second largest group after native Chinese speakers)...I am pretty sure most of that 3% kids cannot understand or speak in hindi at all, but they would still be categorized as native hindi speakers, because that's their ethinicity.

Edited by poppy2009 - 11 years ago

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Unique

@Terenaina

Trailblazer

+ 4

Posted: 11 years ago

#55

Everybody looks beautiful from the video. But if English is sonam's first language, why does she have an accent?😆 she still looks gorgeous anyway

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Antlers

@Antlers

Sparkler

Posted: 11 years ago

#56

Originally posted by: Dexterkilaila
Then why is she so inarticulate? 😆

Speaking a language doesn't necessarily make one articulate. If that was the case, then everyone would be super smart in America.

Originally posted by: Terenaina
Everybody looks beautiful from the video. But if English is sonam's first language, why does she have an accent?😆 she still looks gorgeous anyway

pronunciation and diction.

English speak English. They have an English accent.

American speak English. Well, we Americans have a very crass accent according to a lot of other people.

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return_to_hades

@return_to_hades

Stunner

+ 6

Posted: 11 years ago

#57

On a slightly different note I think it is important to move away from notions of mother tongue, native tongue, ethnic tongue etc.

We live in a multicultural and multilingual world. Many children grow up speaking 2-3 or even more languages. It is unfair to choose one of your parents language over the other. We have immigrant children who speak two languages fluently and equally. It is unfair to force them to choose between the language of their parents and the language of their friends.

In the end what is the point of knowing if a language is someone's mother tongue or native tongue? To deduce their ethnicity? That will be a nonsensical notion a few years from now. Interracial and multilingual communities are rapidly growing.

The purpose of language is communication. The important question should be can we communicate? What language would our communication be most smooth in? Even with purposes of immigration or education. The questions shouldn't be what is your mother tongue. The question should be can you communicate in the medium of education or prevailing language here or do you need help?

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Antlers

@Antlers

Sparkler

Posted: 11 years ago

#58

Originally posted by: poppy2009
If First language and Mother toungue / native language are one and the same, then Sonam is being factually incorrect.

In India and in most Asian countries specifically, when you use the term 'First language' it means the language that refers to the ethinic group that one belongs to. In Sonam's case, it would either be hindi or punjabi. Doesn't matter if you can or cannot speak in the language.

By contrast, Second language is any language that you speak by default and are most comfortable in.

PS: I have applied for my kid's admission to the same school where Sonam went and they have a section where they ask for the child's native toungue / first language and we wrote Hindi, though my son can barely speak in it and is far more comfortable in English.

In fact, UWCSEA has 3% students who are native hindi speakers. (the second largest group after native Chinese speakers)...I am pretty sure most of that 3% kids cannot understand or speak in hindi at all, but they would still be categorized as native hindi speakers, because that's their ethinicity.

LOL. What? So suppose you went to apply to a school and you put your first language as Spanish because who were born into a family of hispanic... you'd put your first language as Spanish even though you don't know a word of it. LOL. what in the world. Next time, ill just say my first language is Rajasthani because my parents are Rajasthani. Even though I don't speak a word of it. 😆

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Khan (from the epiglottis)

@-Mischievous-

Voyager

Posted: 11 years ago

#59

Some people here are going on about how if you don't know the language your parents have, its not considered your first language. While that is fine in its place, in Sonams case, her first language is NOT English as she is claiming. She knows how to speak in Hindi perfectly fine. English isn't her first language. She was raised in an Indian family, in India, studied there, and works in the Bollywood industry. That's ridiculous.

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return_to_hades

@return_to_hades

Stunner

+ 6

Posted: 11 years ago

#60

Originally posted by: Antlers

American speak English. Well, we Americans have a very crass accent according to a lot of other people.

Besides America is so large going from North to South is like almost entering a new country with a whole new accent.

You have the Brooklyn Horro
The Northwood Ya de Hey
The Southern Drawl
The Flatlands flat
The Jersey Shore Guido
The Californian Duuude