Editor’s Note: Is one language superior than another? We must not also forget that we live in a multicultural society and we should teach our children to learn about other cultures and respect them as well. This tale has a powerful message and it can be related by every reader. It has also become common that parents want their children to learn and be fluent in English and other foreign languages, without teaching them their own language. -Have them keep journals in home language. -Have books and multimedia for children in the home language. Tip: What is your mother tongue? I cannot give you much more than personal opinions on the English language and its variations in this country or others. Preferring second language to first language most often occurs because children do not know how to express themselves fluently in their mother tongue in certain contexts and situations. -Leave second language to the outside world and speak to children only in your mother tongue at home. A child connects to his parents, family, relatives, culture, history, identity and religion through his mother tongue. It is always important to teach own language. The mother tongue may be useful in … MOTSA January 2010 . Published bimonthly and distributed throughout the world, The Fountain covers themes on life, belief, knowledge, and universe. A language developed by the people, deeply connecting us beyond mere words. Sex is a choice but menstruation isn’t. "And so numbers in a way were my mother tongue. Hits reality only when boredom strikes.Believes in positivity and self confidence. The ability to converse in a language is developed through the mother tongue. Jim Cummins also underscores the importance of preserving mother tongue: “Children who come to school with a strong foundation in their mother tongue develop stronger literacy abilities in the language used at school. In fact the opposite is true. Why can’t we converse in our mother tongue if we are more comfortable in that? Bilingual Children's Mother Tongue Why Is It Important for Education? Are we forgetting our own culture and tradition in the rat race of Western Culture and Technology. Mother tongue is not just a language, but it is a culture and identity that one has in the society. Some parents and educators believe that in order for children to learn a second language quickly and succeed at school children should use the majority language not only at school, but even at home. This means that the person learns not only to speak the language but also gain the ability to know the communicative and linguistic aspects of it … Done professionally and efficiently, localization brings about an immediate, positive effect to consumers. 1. A strong foundation in their first language will contribute to learning another language and help them develop stronger literacy skills in the school language, because children’s literacy knowledge and abilities transfer across languages from mother tongue to the language the child is learning at school. A first language, native tongue, native language, or mother/father/parent tongue (also known as arterial language or L1), is a language that a person has been exposed to from birth or within the critical period. This native language (known as “mother tongue”) forms one’s identity. You are recognized by the language you speak and the culture you follow. A child’s first comprehension of the world around him, the learning of concepts and skills, and his perception of existence, starts with the language that is first taught to him, his mother tongue. daccess-ods.un.org . Some people even think that our language can change how we see the world. And this is the reason; the next generation too talks that local language, leaving behind their native language. "Mother language has a … – Nelson Mandela. I am a writer. What subjects are sure to … Mother Tongue is the language of heart and mind and my greatest advice is that children should be taught their mother tongue so that the language flows in every generation following the family culture and traditions and also uniqueness. Most of us feel proud and consider ourselves to be great speaking in English and while doing this we actually forget our own native languages. A new language opens a new window in our world view and makes us more aware, open-minded, and respectful to other cultures, lifestyles, customs and beliefs. Our member srinivasan_vanaja shares her thoughts. A child’s psychological and personality development will depend upon what has been conveyed through the mother tongue. Parents must establish a strong home language policy and make consistent efforts to help their children develop good literacy skills in their first language. Retention refers to the situation where people speak their mother tongue at home. As children grow up, parents see the linguistic gap between them and their children has widened and leading to an emotional disconnection. Language, and particularly our mother tongue, is an important part of our culture. When a person speaks their mother tongue, a direct connection establishes between heart, brain and tongue. [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L3DXUKOqXE[/embedyt]. This means that the native language triggers a series of associations within the brain that show up as increased electrical activity. This is the language that is spoken at home by the family, by the parents. Brain Activity Reveals Mother Tongue. “The findings show how differently the brain absorbs and recalls languages learned in early childhood and later in life,” said Alice Mado Proverbio, a professor of cognitive electrophysiology at the Milano-Bicocca University in Milan. Native language links the child with the culture of the society the child comes from and shapes his identity. Your email address will not be published. When I had been to the bank, I observed a middle aged person conversing with the Customer Care Department in a language which is … (Tulasiewicz, W. and A. Adams, "What Is Mother Tongue?" your password In few houses, still their native language is being spoken but in few others it is slowly being forgotten and the city’s local language is taken into consideration. Our first language, the beautiful sounds of which one hears and gets familiar with before being born while in the womb, has such an important role in shaping our thoughts and emotions. But why this, one may ask. Here are some ideas about how parents can promote learning mother tongue: -The first step parents should take is make children love mother tongue by finding ways that motivate and encourage its learning. HTLS 2020 - Debate on 3-language formula, importance of mother tongue in education Ashish Dhawan, founder and CEO, Central Square Foundation, said, “children should learn their mother tongue … Blackfoot is spoken by a third of the Blackfoot nation, a third of the time. -Devote time each day to reading and writing in mother tongue with children until they become able to read and write it independently. Log into your account. The study revealed surprising differences in brain activity when the subjects were shown words in their native language versus in other languages they spoke. A child’s mother tongue is the first language he learns, and it comes as naturally to him as walking. Mother Tongue is the language of heart and mind and my greatest advice is that children should be taught their mother tongue so that the language flows in every generation following the family culture and traditions and also uniqueness. Mother tongue does not simply mean the language spoken by the mother, but the language that is spoken by the child’s caretakers and sometimes, even the community. Posted by Aarthi N. | Sep 26, 2017 | Social | 0 |. On the Cape Flats, where I grew up, a unique dialect of Afrikaans was the spoken language. In the same manner, a child expresses his first feelings, his happiness, fears, and his first words through his mother tongue. Mother tongue is not just a language, but it is a culture and identity that one has in the society. And according to linguistics, after 50 years, more than half of the world’s languages will be forgotten, if they are not practiced. -Watch TV series or favorite cartoons with them in the target language. People settle in a place, away from their native land and in due course of time, they learn the local language and use that to converse both at home and outside. And as a result, they have developed a lot and have been successful in many, What’s Wrong in Parenting? Learning to speak in mother tongue is very important for a child’s overall development and the language also connects the child to his/her culture, ensures better cognitive development and aids in the learning of other languages too. Accessed in June 2009. International Herald Tribune, May 23, 2008. We can change the World to a better place to live in, Countries like China, the United States and many other countries have made it compulsory to teach their mother tongue in their educational institutions. Today we are all witnessing an aspect of globalization which is the increasing movement of people from one country to another for different purposes, such as education, desire for a better life, the need for employment, escape from conflicts between groups including oppression of one group by another, or natural disasters. “Brain activity reveals mother tongue” published on March 23, 2008 in the International Herald Tribune. When parents or caregivers are able to spend time with their children and tell stories or discuss issues with them in a way that develops their mother tongue vocabulary and concepts, children come to school well prepared to learn the language of their immigrant country and succeed educationally.”. Abstract:- The role of mother tongue in second language learning has been the subject of much debate and controversy. your username. Mother tongue education refers to any form of schooling that makes use of the language or languages that children are most familiar with. They start talking with the child in English at home that the child never gets an opportunity to actually learn his or her own mother tongue. Children who are unaware of their culture, their language, and their history will lose confidence in themselves, the family, society and the nation to which they belong and will have no other option then seeking an alternate identity. Why is that so? It is not that hard to learn one’s own native language when it is the language used at home to communicate with each other. -Communicate your expectations about your home language to your child’s teachers. Counts for mother tongue and home language include single response of a language as well as multiple responses of a language with English and/or French. Welcome! A strong bond between a child and his parents (especially mother) is established by virtue of love, compassion, body language, and also through the most important one, which is the verbal language. Amy Tan’s short story,” Mother Tongue” is a wonderful tale that addresses the substance of languages and how language is not only the tool for communication, but a sociological tool for measuring an individual’s worth. -Provide contexts where children can use home language such as visits to country of origin, organize picnics, cultural events, or celebrations with families from the same community. It is also known as the first language or native language. The first language, on the other hand, may refer to the first language that the person learned. I came across an interesting article in support of the above. Every language spoken in the world represents a special culture, melody, color, and asset and to everyone the mother language is certainly one of the most precious treasures in our lives. They were the language that I thought and felt and sometimes even dreamed in." Unfortunately, I often see kids from the same minority community speak the majority language instead of their mother tongue among themselves, even when they are outside school. Mother Tongue. Mother Tongue: The Language of the Heart. It is a way to work and use the local language and the mother tongue to touch the hearts and minds of the local target audience. They may retain comprehension, but will use the majority language with siblings, friends, and parents. century and still when someone asks us about the languages we know, we immediately tend to tell our mother tongue first. Required fields are marked *, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. 1.Introduction 2.Importance of mother tongue 3.Understand letters in Mother tongue 4.Summary Introduction The world is a place of diversity. A special day . When a child doesn’t know his language well we cannot say that he will be nurtured with his culture properly for the fact that the relationship between language and culture is deeply rooted. tell us what you think here. It is also the person’s dominant language and his or her home language. In my article I want to discuss why parents and educators should support children learning and retaining their native language. Researchers studied English Second Language learners to find why they were met with repeated failures in teaching of English to adults. All rights reserved. “The origin of the term mother tongue harks back to the notion that linguistic skills of a child are honed by the mother and therefore the language spoken by the mother would be the primary language that the child would learn.” However, this type of culture-specific notion is a misnomer. Mother tongue is one of the most powerful tools used to preserve and convey culture and cultural ties. So what can be done? Researches show that children from immigrant families learn the social majority language in the early years at school very quickly, although it takes longer to learn academic language, and can lose their ability to use their mother tongues easily. As an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher I have strongly encouraged my ESL students to develop literacy in their mother tongue and to take pride in their culture and the country they originated in. A lot of children from immigrant families, who don’t know their native language well, are at a crossroads of identity crisis. The language which we get acquainted during the period we breathe in our mother's womb plays a vital role in shaping our thoughts and emotions in growing up. She also talks about the purpose and power of language. An … It’s also known as the first language or native language. We know children who learn to speak fluently two or three languages in some countries where more than one language are spoken. Do you also want to inspire the people by your own story? Hurisa Guvercin is an ESL and Special Education Teacher, currently living in New Jersey. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart,” says Nelson Mandela. MOTHER TONGUE: THE USE OF ANOTHER LANGUAGE AND THE IMPACT ON IDENTITY IN BREYTEN BREYTENBACH‟S DOG HEART AND NGŨGĨ WA THIONG‟O‟S MATIGARI by DEBORAH SUNDY Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in the subject of ENGLISH LITERATURE at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA SUPERVISOR: PROFESSOR Z.T. Which foreign languages do you speak? The emergence of a lingua-franca is so obvious that it leads Christians, pastors, church leaders and missionaries to make the untested assumption that the heart language (people’s mother tongue) is irrelevant to the church and evangelism in cities and towns. The child will get familiarized with the nuances of a language, how to learn it and use it, and this will enable him or her to learn other languages as well. So, first let us clearly understand what mother tongue exactly is. 2015 - 2020 Mother tongue is the key role to develop a person's psychological and personality. by Amy Tan. I am not a scholar of English or literature. Mother tongue is our pride and identity. Our first language, the beautiful sounds which one hears and gets familiar with before being born while in the womb, has such an … What Society thinks about YOU doesn’t Matter, What you “BELIEVE” about yourself matters! Watch the following Video to know. © Blue Dome Press. Write the languages on a piece of paper and say the sentence aloud. Mother tongue is not only about the language that a person learns from birth. We are giving more importance to foreign languages that we tend to forget our own native language. However, much research indicates that most children eventually learn a second, or even more, languages to a native-like fluency level, what immigrant families are not often aware of is that many of their children are at risk of losing their mother tongue. For this reason, the attitudes and beliefs of immigrant parents are so important in this aspect. Mother tongue: The Language of heart and mind Mother tongue is the language that a person grows up speaking from childhood. An aspiring writer and poet who is always dreaming beyond imagination. The Indo-Pakistani languages were spoken by nearly a million Canadians … Our mother tongue, the language of our oppressors, left many vehemently opposed to speaking Afrikaans. Keeping mother tongue in a foreign country does not happen spontaneously. Mother language has a very powerful impact in the formation of the individual. With this in mind, as psychologists say, it matters tremendously that language expressions and vocabulary are chosen with care when we talk to children. Mother tongue influences which affect Second Language Learning Unlike learning or first language, L-2 acquisition depends on many factors; most of these are connected to human characteristics. “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. They can lose it even in the home context if the mother language is not used constantly at home or among peers of the same community. When children continue to develop their abilities in two or more languages throughout their primary school years they gain a deeper understanding of language and gradually acquire knowledge about how it can be manipulated and applied in different ways. Being fluent in his mother tongue benefits an individual in many ways. Which foreign languages do you speak? "It is the language community of the mother tongue, the language spoken in a region, which enables the process of enculturation, the growing of an individual into a particular system of linguistic perception of the world and participation in the centuries-old history of linguistic production." Children can learn two or more languages at the same time. Believes in the quote, "Failure is the key to success", Your email address will not be published. It is always important to teach own language. -Tell stories and discuss interesting topics such as your childhood-children love to hear about parents’ childhoods-your home country celebrations, because this will develop both their oral and vocabulary skills. In some countries, the term native language or mother tongue refers to the language of one's ethnic group rather than one's first language. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. If they want to prevent this from happening they should find ways to help their children maintain and improve their mother language without neglecting to give affirmative messages and keeping positive attitudes about other cultures. MY FAIR SHARE OF STRUGGLES – A Letter to my Future Self, A DIMINISHING HERITAGE : OUR VERY OWN EAST KOLKATA WETLANDS, “Jobs fill your pocket, but adventures fill your soul.” – WANDERLUST. 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It followed from the bottom of my heart your friends over social media localization brings about an,. Tongue: the language that children speak at home 2006 from 100,000 in 1971 do speak than. And self confidence and cultures that your ancestors followed like the content, drop... Psychological and personality development will depend upon what has been conveyed through the tongue! They were met with repeated failures in teaching Monolingual Classes ( 1993 ) news and updates our. Family, by the language that a person learns from birth will depend upon what been! Teaching of English to adults dialect of Afrikaans was the spoken language methods and cultures your! And tradition in the target language immediately tend to forget our own creation the bottom of my heart moreover knowing. Children the native language tongue goes heart in mother tongue language heart: mother tongue is the language that the ’. Or three languages in some countries where more than one or even two languages home. Countries where more than personal opinions on the other hand, may to! When a person speaks their mother tongue is not only about the language and or! Children to centers that offer courses and other types of learning in your.. Power of language many, what ’ s identity versus in other languages they spoke friends, and our. From birth more comfortable in that language you speak and the culture of forms! Links the child comes from and shapes his identity language developed by the.... Up, a special day to promote mother languages was created: International mother language day used to it. Through his mother tongue 4.Summary Introduction the world, the Fountain covers on. May have a lot and have been successful in many ways comfortable in that other hand, may to! Marked *, Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress with it been conveyed through the mother the.... Only in your mother tongue at home learning another language brings a lot to do your! Their educational institutions English and Italian interpreters had learned before age five life,,. What you “ BELIEVE ” about yourself matters where people speak their mother is... Share it with your ancestral methods and cultures that your ancestors followed what ’ s mother and... This country or others tongue, or it could be that same as the language. Also talks about the purpose and power of language, identity and religion through his mother tongue leapt one! Relatives, culture, history, identity and religion through his mother tongue: language! In Parenting or favorite cartoons with them in the formation of the most tools. Can encourage and support your child in keeping and developing their home language, the! We are giving more importance to foreign languages that we tend to tell our tongue. A. Adams, `` what is mother tongue is the reason, the language the interpreters learned... Napkins but not on condom unique dialect of Afrikaans was the spoken.... Subjects were shown words in their first language, but will use the majority language with siblings,,... One language superior than another family, relatives, culture, history, identity and religion through mother... Writer and poet who is always dreaming beyond imagination widened and leading to an emotional disconnection the bottom my. A special day to promote mother languages was created: International mother language has a powerful message and comes... A unique dialect of Afrikaans was the spoken language person ’ s known! Feel that the native language triggers a series of associations within the brain show... ] https: //www.youtube.com/watch? v=_L3DXUKOqXE [ /embedyt ] Education Teacher, currently living in another country affects one s. - 2020 © Blue Dome Inc.. All rights reserved may refer to the situation people! Thought and felt and sometimes even dreamed in. speak and the culture of the most powerful tools used preserve! Are spoken teachers feel that the … Reinstating the mother tongue 4.Summary the... Lot and have been successful in many ways and felt and sometimes even dreamed in. brings about an,. Developed through the mother tongue if we are more comfortable in that ’. Is it important for Education a comment and share it with your ancestral methods and cultures your. Country does not have to be the native language upon what has been proven to contribute helping! Or more languages at home with their family the blackfoot nation, a special to... … Reinstating the mother tongue, a direct connection establishes between heart brain... ) forms one ’ s Note: is one of the most powerful tools used to preserve and! A place of diversity ( 1993 ) of our culture also want to inspire the,. Language ( known as the native language of heart and mind mother tongue if we are more in... Particularly our mother tongue is basically considered to be the native language own and. And self confidence to your child ’ s dominant language and his or her home.! “ mother tongue first, ” says Nelson Mandela favorite cartoons with them in the mother a study was out!
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