Quote:
Originally Posted by dlish
if you spoke your parents tongue, would it be more likely that you'd classify yourself by your ethinicity instead?
|
Not in my family's case.
My father was born in France during WWII, with a French mother and a Mexican father who was fighting for the US Army at the time. He grew up speaking French, Spanish and English having immigrated to the United States when he was still very young, though he didn't gain citizenship until he was in his 20's.
My mother was born in the United States, with her grandparents having immigrated at the turn of the century from Wales and the Netherlands. She grew up speaking Dutch and whatever gibberish they speak in Wales.
They both identify themselves by their nationality rather than their ethnicity for the simple fact that ethnicity isn't something one has any choice over. They made a conscious decision to become/remain Americans.