mother tongue
Definition
Noun: - One's native language; the first language a person learns from infancy: This term refers to the language acquired naturally during early childhood, typically from one's family or immediate community. It is often the language in which a person thinks and dreams, and it forms the foundation of their linguistic identity. - The language passed down through generations within a family or cultural group: It emphasizes the language's role as a carrier of heritage and cultural transmission.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Her mother tongue is Spanish, but she is fluent in English.
- It is important to preserve one's mother tongue to maintain cultural connections.
- Children learn their mother tongue through listening and imitation.
Advanced Usage
- "First language" (L1): A more formal or academic synonym often used in linguistics and education.
- In many bilingual education programs, instruction begins in the student's first language.
- "Native language": A common alternative with the same core meaning.
- He writes poetry in his native language.
Variants and Related Words
- Heritage language: A language that is connected to a person's family or ethnic heritage, which may or may not be their dominant or first language.
- She attends classes to learn her heritage language, Italian.
- Linguistic heritage: Refers more broadly to the languages and dialects associated with one's ancestry and culture.
Synonyms
- Native language
- First language (L1)
- Native tongue
Related Phrases
- Lose one's mother tongue: To forget or no longer be proficient in one's first language, often due to living in a different linguistic environment.
- After decades abroad, he was afraid he would lose his mother tongue.
- Mother tongue education: Schooling or instruction conducted primarily in a student's first language.
- Research supports the benefits of mother tongue education in early grades.
Related Idioms
- The language of the heart: An expressive phrase sometimes used to describe one's mother tongue, emphasizing its deep emotional and personal resonance.
- For her, poetry could only be truly written in the language of her heart, her mother tongue.
Noun
-
one's native language; the language learned by children and passed from one generation to the next
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