Do you still communicate in your native tongue? I am referring to the first language that you learned as a baby or a young child. For many, the answer will be no; other global languages have relegated it.
The loss of native tongues is common, and globalization and migration contribute to it. It could also be because of social dynamics, social stigma, or preference.
The native tongue is also known as the mother tongue or first language. They play a significant role in shaping identities, and they aid learning in early childhood, among other benefits.
Today is International Mother Language Day. Read on to learn the relevance of the first language.
Impacts of Loss of Native Tongue
Loss of native tongue can lead to cultural death and erosion of identity. It can restrain relationships with extended family and weaken communities. The inability to speak your first language can sometimes restrict your career prospects.
The Importance of the Native Tongue
Your first language builds a foundation for communication and connection to your roots.
Cultural Preservation
Your mother tongue helps to keep cultural tradition and history alive. It uses stories, songs, and proverbs to pass traditions and history across generations. Your first language reflects your values and beliefs, and it shapes your perceptions.
Moreso, being a part of a shared language fosters a sense of belonging. Also, there are expressions and jokes in your native language that are difficult to translate into another language.
Personal Identity
Your mother tongue preserves your identity by shaping how you think. It helps you categorize your experiences and express your emotions. In addition, it’s a vital link to your childhood memories and past.
Likewise, speaking this language as a family creates a bond and a sense of unity. That’s why it gives you a communal feeling that blends you with your cultural community.
Language Preservation
The native tongue is the cornerstone of language preservation. It’s the way to pass down traditions and language skills across generations.
Children will be more likely to remember if their parents teach them the vocabulary and cultural nuances. And to safeguard traditions and ancestry, the mother tongue must be kept alive. Speaking your native language is essential for maintaining cultural diversity.
Also Read: Why is Chinese Not One Language but More?
Mental Development
The first language aids in the development of cognitive skills and agility in early childhood. It helps them understand concepts and builds their blocks of thought.
In addition, it influences their analyzing and problem-solving skills. In the same way, it helps them know language structure and builds a foundation for future learning. This gives them an edge in learning complex subjects and other languages.
Knowing your native language aids in intellectual growth, especially in early childhood.
Communication and Emotional Connection
The language you learned in depth allows you to express yourself with better nuance and emotional accuracy. It will enable you to express your emotions, thoughts, and feelings more accurately. This leads to a more effective expression of your feelings and deeper communication.
It also enhances communication with the elderly and older relatives, especially if that’s all they speak.
Similarly, they strengthen emotional bonds with loved ones through shared memories and experiences. It also gives you a sense of familiarity when you connect with others who speak the same language.
Linguistic Diversity and Global Understanding
We already know that the native tongue preserves cultural heritage and that 6,500 languages are spoken in the world. Each language is distinct, contributing to rich linguistic diversity within communities and societies.
It also enhances language diversity; there’s beauty in a global variety of languages. Every mother tongue has a unique history and tradition that enhances human experience and knowledge. This is the reason linguists study ancient and distinct languages.
Having a grasp of your native tongue helps you appreciate other cultures and increase your empathy. As a result, they contribute to building peace, cross-cultural relationships, and global awareness.
Also Read: What are Some Borrowed Words in the English Language
Challenges in using the Native Tongue
Several factors pose a challenge to the use of the native tongue.
Cultural Influences
Living in a place where another language dominates reduces the relevance of the native tongue. This is understandable because it wouldn’t be used in education, media, or interactions outside the home.
As a result, there might be pressure to assimilate into the predominant culture and language. This will unconsciously or consciously lead to the neglect of your mother tongue.
Where families live within their community, not using the first language could be a symbol of prestige or modernity. This has led to the devaluation of many indigenous languages, especially in the previous colonies of Britain and France.
Also, this is common in many places where there’s a preference for global languages like English over native languages.
Also Read: Revealing African Countries That Speak Portuguese
Generational Shift
In most families, the older generations are more proficient in their native language. That’s because the younger generations may prefer speaking in the majority language. This can be attributed to the infrequent use of the mother language at home and in their environment.
In addition, technology and online communication make them prefer dominant languages. All of which makes them lose fluency, resulting in a lack of zeal in using the language.
Also, pressure to assimilate into a broader culture can make them not prioritize their native tongue.
Family Dynamics
Exposure to mixed languages can weaken the grasp of the native language, especially when it is not used consistently. This is typically the case when parents or siblings speak different languages at home.
Migration can cause a shift in language because of the integration into the new environment, school, and majority language. Children can lose interest when their parents prefer using the dominant language. This also applies if the family doesn’t actively engage with the culture of the mother tongue.
Also Read: Beyond Blood: How Siblings Influence Each Other
Social Stigma
In certain instances, there’s a common perception that minority languages are inferior and their people are of the lower class.
Globalization and the spread of the English language as the dominant language have contributed to this. This can make people feel embarrassed when speaking their native language.
Similarly, children in a different culture may be teased for speaking their language at school or among friends. As a result, they may be reluctant to use the language out of fear of mockery.
Embrace your Native Tongue
There’s beauty in the diversity of languages, and your native tongue is an important part of it. It’s a pillar of your culture and identity.
And while life and circumstances can limit its use, cherish it and do your bit to keep it alive. Its preservation depends on you, your household, and your community.
Leave a comment