My family left Pakistan when I was 11 years old and I have grown up in a foreign enviornment. I have a ghetto mentality in which I feel much more comfortable when I am speaking Urdu and dealing with fellow pakistanis.
I never dream in English and I can not think in English. When I talk in English somehow my brain converts urdu into English. So my question is can you guys dream and think in English ? This question is only for people who came to a western country when they were like 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 years of age and grew up in a western enviornment.
Also I am much more fluent in Urdu, I can speak English, but I have to think alot before I say something in English and hence I can not speak english as fast as I speak urdu.
Re: Do you dream and think in English ? (only for overseas pakistanis)
because of the area in toronto i live in ...there are like 80% pakistanis... and im here for the past 5 years now... but i do not think or dream in english... i do however speak english with my classmates... but im just like you... i gotta think before i speak english and my brain just automatically converts urdu into english without even me knowing... but ya.. bottom line is... i speak urdu faster and more comfortably than speak english.. ( but i dont have no problem speaking english, if i really have to..afterall...its just another language )..
Re: Do you dream and think in English ? (only for overseas pakistanis)
Im born and raised in NYC, so my urdu isnt perfect at all, I am comfortable speaking it w/ my parents and in-laws and husband and family in Pak.
They all understand that it’s not going to be the same as someone who was raised in Pakistan but all that matters is that I’m comfortable speaking it.
With friends I don’t speak it as much coz they make fun of my accent but to elders i always speak Urdu, even if htey talk to me in English, I’ll respond ot them in Urdu…I just feel weird speaking english with older ppl…
Re: Do you dream and think in English ? (only for overseas pakistanis)
i guess i have to say i dream and think in english now i mean i can readily switch between the two languages no problem, and i can go in streaks of either language…depending on the situation, or no situation. i came here when i was 13 and for the first three years here the only exposure to urdu/punjabi i had was my parents, so i had to pick up english really quickly, and so i guess while picking it up i started thinking in it too.
Re: Do you dream and think in English ? (only for overseas pakistanis)
Hahahaha..... thats funny! Even though I am not an Immigrant from Pakistan, i wanna answer this thread. I was born in UK and live in US now and my mother tongue I would say is English, Second language would be Pashto and third language would be Urdu/Hindi and fourth language would be Spanish. I think, dream, breath and speak in English - this is my comfortable language. I speak fluent in all these languages, but sometimes I mix them up... you can imagine me speaking in Pashto to my grandfather in a mix between Spanish, English and Pashto! I get confused a LOT.... but when i speak the same langauge continuously for a half a day, then it all comes naturally, without the mix of languages. When i feel like swearing, i do it in Spanish or Pashto as its more effective and also, my family (pakis) dont understand Spanish at all, so it feels good swearing in front of them and they dont understand a single word...hehehee :-)
some time i dream in a language which I can't understand.
Re: Do you dream and think in English ? (only for overseas pakistanis)
I have been here since 11--i am fluent in urdu , english and spanish as well--but my first preference language is english--my husband and i both talk in english--my mind does not i must say convert to urdu--it is english as i hear it--i do speak in urdu with my in laws--
You know there is no harm in admiting ones mistakes--i will admit my biggest mistake which i intend to correct--is by speaking mainly in english with my kids--they both understand urdu but will not speak it--my older one who has finished quran at 8 he is 9 now recites quran Mashallah better than my husband or I but will not speak it--the fact that we don't visit pakistan makes it difficult as well --
buy anyways yes as far as dreaming and thinking--i definitely think in english and in urdu as well--just depends i think english is more dominant--as for dreams i will pay attention to my next dream for now i can't remember never paid attention to that aspect.
Re: Do you dream and think in English ? (only for overseas pakistanis)
well woh khud english bolna start ho gain and then she complains you didn't teach urdu and i ask her why do you speak in english to them--it is so wierd sometimes when my MIL speaks to me in urdu and then she will say : Anyways.... or Atleast....
she has picked those up from me i guess i say that alot anyways....funny huh
Re: Do you dream and think in English ? (only for overseas pakistanis)
I've been in canada since i was 11 years. I am fluent in english and urdu. For me, I prefer to speak in english with everyone other than my family. At home we usually speak urdu. I remember some dreams where i spoke some urdu words and my dream included family members. Whenever i see friends in my dreams I remember speaking in english. It is really a mix of both...
A lil off topic subject.....Why are new immigrants are less attracted to people who have been here for long time?
Re: Do you dream and think in English ? (only for overseas pakistanis)
ok people nearly time to go to bed but i think im gonna dream in urdu and pashto and a bit of chinese.....hmmm....could turn out to be a good dish this one......
Re: Do you dream and think in English ? (only for overseas pakistanis)
Okay so I'm born and brought up in the UK but i'm fluent in english and punjabi/urdu.
I rarely have to think when I'm speaking in Punjabi/urdu, but sometimes what I think is right, is what every one else finds funny (apparantly it's cute, I just find it frustating). But hey
I never actually thought about it but I think I must dream in english but maybe not cos my mum always speaks to me in punjabi/urdu (apparantly it's her way of teaching us the language and an excuse for not having to learn english)so I think I must dream in punjabi/urdu some times.
I will have to go to sleep and test out the theory
but to elders i always speak Urdu, even if htey talk to me in English, I’ll respond ot them in Urdu…I just feel weird speaking english with older ppl…
i mean i can readily switch between the two languages no problem, and i can go in streaks of either language…depending on the situation, or no situation. i came here when i was 13 and for the first three years here the only exposure to urdu/punjabi i had was my parents, so i had to pick up english really quickly, and so i guess while picking it up i started thinking in it too.
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