Receptive Bilinguals

The term for people who grew up speaking English but had grandparents who spoke another language is "receptive bilingual". They fully understand what the grandparents say in their mother tongue, but do not speak it themselves.

My grandchildren have Polish grandparents on their mother's side. Their babcia and dziadek (pronounced "JAdek") were born in Communist Poland and came here as adults in the 1980s. After successful decades of life in this country they both speak fluent English, but it is heavily accented. 

Their daughter -- my daughter in law -- was three when she arrived from Poland and speaks perfect English (well, California English, it's a thing fer shure), but she was raised speaking Polish at home. I am amazed at her ability to weave in and out of both languages seamlessly, accent free, and unconsciously.

But the newest generation -- my one year and three year old grandchildren, do not have their mother's bilingual ability. They are receptive bilinguals. They completely understand all that is said in Polish but answer in English.

Well, the one year old isn't even fluent in English yet, other than "blueberry" "mama" and "boop". But my almost four year old granddaughter is a chatterbox. Exclusively in English.

She even corrects her Polish grandmother's pronunciation. One time, while reading a book in English about a dinosaur who is in love, my granddaughter stopped her grandmother abruptly. "no, babcia, you say Love, not Laaaf. You say it wrong."

And yet when she is told in Polish "czas iść spać", she answers, "no, no, I don't wanna go to bed yet." When she is asked "która szczoteczka do zębów?" She answers "I want the blue toothbrush. Not the red one, babcia."

She knows there are two distinct languages, and at three knew apple was English and jabłko was Polish for the very same thing and which grandparent to say which word to when she wanted a snack. 

She can't read yet but knows which of her books are in Polish and which are the English ones Grammy or her beloved uncle can read to her. At three she understood this.

Jim's nephews are grown now, and they are receptive bilinguals in Turkish, their father's and grandparents' language, but were raised in America and speak English (Boston accented, but still). They fully understand Turkish but do not speak it.

It's apparently an actual developmental condition of hearing but not speaking two languages.

It just fascinates me to think what goes on in a child's developing little mind as they learn to speak. I get to watch my grandchildren learn in two languages as they grow up, and it is a marvel.