Re: Teaching a child three languages

Lee Sau Dan wrote:

I can't agree more! My 2nd (maybe 3rd or 4th) cousins in San
Francisco cannot speak Cantonese anymore. They used to speak
Toishanese and understand Cantonese before they went to school --
their grandma, speaking Toishanese natively -- was their babysitter.
But after they went to school, they no longer with with grandma. They
live with their parents in the less crowded places in Bay Area. And
they spoke English at home and school. They have essentially unlearnt
Cantonese/Toishanese. (There are 2 exceptions. The eldest uncle
continued to live with his mother. So, his 2 sons can still
understand instructions given to them in Cantonese/Toishanese. But
they are reluctant in speaking those languages.)

What do you mean by "2nd (maybe 3rd or 4th) cousins"?

In English, you and your 4th cousin have a common
great-great-great-grandparent.

OTOH, your grandparent could be the great-great-great-grandparent of
your first cousin thrice removed.
--
Peter T. Daniels grammatim@xxxxxxx
.