Quote:
Originally Posted by Nyororin
(Note; I am a linguist, and did several research projects on childhood language acquisition. I know what I`m talking about.)
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Congratulations but that doesn't mean squat I'm afraid - I'm a mathematician with a masters degree but that doesn't mean I am always correct when it comes to math based questions...
If the definition of fluent is different at the age iof 3, then how can you use that term at all then? By that logic I could say that Gandhi was an evil person, although the definition of evil is different compared to Hitler. Fluent implies:
"able to speak or write smoothly, easily, or readily"
Even at a basic level, most 3 year old kids can't always achieve that
Anyway, back to the topic - I'm just going from experience, I tried watching a LOT of Japanese tv when I first arrived to pick things up but, even after 6months, could barely understand 1 word in 10 because of the way a native blends words and uses slang etc. It was only after extensive lessons and the use of a translator that I eventually began to SLOWLY comprehend things.
Now I have a VERY good memory, always have, but without lessons, I honestly believe that there isn't a chance in hell I would understand anything because, in a conversation, it is impossible to predict the context if you don't understand any of the words (body language aside)