There is no significant difference between mother tongue and first language since both refer to a person’s native language. However, in some contexts, mother tongue refers to the language of one’s ethnic group, rather than one’s first language.
Mother tongue or first language is the language a person has been exposed to from the birth. It is usually the language one first learns. It is also the language a person is most fluent in. Nevertheless, in some countries like India and Kenya, the term mother tongue refers to the language of one’s ethnic group, instead of one’s first language.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is Mother Tongue
– Definition, Characteristics
2. What is First Language
– Definition, Characteristics
3. What are the Similarities Between Mother Tongue and First Language
– Outline of Common Features
4. What is the Difference Between Mother Tongue and First Language
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
First Language, Mother Tongue
What is Mother Tongue?
Mother tongue is the language a person learns to speak first. Although some people assume that the mother tongue is the language spoken by the mother, this is always not correct. For example, an Indian mother living in the USA may only speak in English with the child even though her native language is Hindi. However, a person usually learns the mother tongue as a child at home.
Mother tongue is usually another name for the first language. Nevertheless, in some contexts, mother tongue refers to the language of one’s ethnic group, rather than one’s first language.
What is First Language?
First language is simply the language we learn first. Native language, L1, and mother tongue are other names for first language. First language is generally the language we learn as a child, and the one we speak at home. Therefore, it is not incorrect to say that children learn their first language from parents or caretakers.
This language acquisition is a natural process, and children learn effortlessly by listening to parents and other caretakers communicating in this language. For example, a child in an Indian household where all communications take place in the Tamil language will speak Tamil as the first language. However, we can notice a difference in bilingual families. For example, imagine a family with a French father and an Indian mother. If both parents use their respective mother tongues with the child, the child will speak two first languages.
Moreover, the first language is the language you are most fluent and competent in, irrespective of how many languages you speak. In other words, it is the language you think in. Although first language users of a language may not be knowledgable about every expression or grammatical rule in the language, they will generally have a good idea about language usage due to their longtime experience.
Similarities Between Mother Tongue and First Language
- Mother tongue, first language and native language are usually synonyms.
- It is usually the language we learn as a child and the language we speak at home.
- A person is generally most fluent and competent in his or her mother tongue or first language.
Difference Between Mother Tongue and First Language
There is no significant difference between mother tongue and first language since both refer to a person’s native language, which is the language a person acquires in early childhood as it is spoken in the family. However, in some countries, the term mother tongue refers to the language of one’s ethnic group, instead of one’s first language.
Conclusion
Generally, there is no difference between mother tongue and first language. Both refer to the language we learn as a child and the language we speak at home. Moreover, we are most fluent and competent in our mother tongue or first language. Nevertheless, in some contexts, the term mother tongue may refer to the language of one’s ethnic group, instead of one’s first language.
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1. “905562” By Tumisu (CC0) via Pixabay
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