Mother tongue refers to the first language learned at home in childhood and still understood by the person at the time statistical data is collected. If the person no longer understands the first language learned, the mother tongue is the second language learned. One must have full native fluency in that language.
Mother tongue is also referred to as first language, native language, native tongue.
Children brought up speaking more than one language can have more than one native language, and be bilingual or multilingual. A second language is any language that one speaks other than one’s first language.
The impact of one’s mother tongue is that it forms part of an individual’s personal, social and cultural identity. It also brings about the reflection and learning of successful social patterns of acting and speaking.
”I have no desire to learn or speak my mother tongue.” That is okay. One only needs to know enough language to communicate wherever it is that they are. That allows us to get around and live our lives in a society where we understand each other. But for those who speak their mother tongue, they will tell you that there is some words, phrases or actions that cannot be quite translated into another language without altering the impact or meaning.
These unique nuances in language are what makes learning your mother tongue unique and exciting. Language is diverse, but communication should be easy.
Children have been known punished for speaking a language other than the school language. Theses practice continues today is many countries. Research however shows that children learn better and faster when they are able to build on their home languages but also that restricting and punishing children is harmful.
The benefits associated with an education that takes into account children’s mother tongues include: Children learn better and faster in a language they can understand (preventing delays in learning); They enjoy school more, they feel more at home; Pupils tend to show increased self-esteem; Parents participation is increased. Parents can help with homework and can participate in school activities; When children take advantage of their multilingualism they may enjoy higher socioeconomic status, including higher earnings; On average, the schools perform better, reporting less repetition and less drop-out.