mother tongue

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mother tongue

A child learns her mother tongue from her parents.

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.
mother tongue

A child learns her mother tongue from her parents.

Noun
  1. one's native language; the language learned by children and passed from one generation to the next

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