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I’m a 19-year-old student from Malaysia. I’ve been introduced to the language at a very young age and I’m capable of conducting any type of conversation. However, some of my English-speaking friends on the internet didn’t take too long to figure I’m not a native speaker. Why is that?
Because non-native speakers use English differently as compared to native speakers. It’s… it’s as simple as that.
I can also usually tell within the first few moments of talking to somebody on the internet whether they are from a native English-speaking country or not. They’ll use slightly different phrasing. Use of idioms is also a dead giveaway.
I dunno. It’s usually patently obvious. This doesn’t make a non-native English speaker’s English bad by any stretch; just different.
I can also generally tell where native English speakers are from as well, at least in a general sense. Canadians tend to sound like Americans (even in writing) but spell more like the Brits. British persons obviously use British English and will use British colloquiums and the word ‘whilst’ often will pop up. Australians lean heavy on the word ‘mate’ a lot of the time. Americans use American spellings and sound like Americans.
And so on.
It may be little things like not using native idioms, that you would pick up from living in the UK.
But, hey. That’s just a guess.
Also, I don’t think I would’ve noticed you were foreign from what you wrote, if you didn’t point it out.
You probably have strange grammar. Pretty much every language has a different grammar style than English, as far as I know. Don’t know Malaysian, so I can’t answer that specific part. But based on your question, you have better grammar than most on the internet. So that could be it, that you’re “too perfect.” Could be an accent, too. Or idioms, those things are pretty funny.
There could be several reasons why your English-speaking friends might perceive you as a non-native speaker, despite your fluency. Here are a few possibilities:
1. Accent and Pronunciation: If you have an accent that is characteristic of Malaysian speakers or another non-English background, it may give away your non-native status.
2. Vocabulary and Idiomatic Usage: Native speakers often use idiomatic expressions, slang, or specific vocabulary that might not be part of your repertoire. If you use more formal or less colloquial language, it might signal that you are not a native speaker.
3. Grammar and Syntax: While you might be fluent, there could be certain grammatical structures or idioms that you may not use in the same way as a native speaker, which might hint at your background.
4. Cultural References: Native speakers often reference cultural elements, humor, or social norms that you may not be as familiar with, which can give clues to your non-native status.
5. Contextual Clues: Sometimes, the way people frame their thoughts, express emotions, or even use humor can indicate their cultural background, which may lead to conclusions about their native language.
Improving in any of these areas can help you sound even more like a native speaker. Regular practice, immersion, and exposure to native content can be beneficial for this.