Is there a father tongue?

Native English speaking linguists generally do not talk of languages being "tongues", so as a technical term, "father tongue" is unusual. You may encounter it in non-technical contexts as in the Gogo / Pare example, or as a somewhat quirky term for a language revitalization effort (read about the project name here).
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on linguistics.stackexchange.com


Does father tongue exist?

While father tongues predominate, exceptions to father tongues exist in the world. Two very well-known exceptions are the Balti in northern Pakistan and Hungarians.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on en.wikipedia.org


Why there is no father tongue?

Traditionally, bilingualism research used the term “Mother Tongue” to describe the language spoken by the mother. Because there is no use of “Father Tongue” there is an implication that the language that the father speaks is of lesser importance.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on onraisingbilingualchildren.com


What is meant by father tongue?

In opposition to the mother tongue hypothesis, the father tongue hypothesis states that humans tend to speak their fathers' language, based on a stronger correlation of languages to paternal lineages (Y-chromosome) than to maternal lineages (mitochondria).
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on academic.oup.com


What is the difference between mother tongue and father tongue?

Mother tongue hypothesis refers to that the language usage follows matrilineal inheritance. Father tongue hypothesis refers to that paternal lines dominate the local language in an already-populated region, which was proposed based on other genetic and anthropological researches.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on eurekalert.org


Our Father Tongue: the Effects of Gendered Language



Why we say mother tongue and not father tongue?

The reason its called mother tongue is because the passing down of customs, tradition and language of a people is majorly the duty of the mother and less of the father.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nairaland.com


Can I have two first languages?

One can have two or more native languages, thus being a native bilingual or indeed multilingual. The order in which these languages are learned is not necessarily the order of proficiency.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on en.wikipedia.org


Why it is called as mother tongue?

In this metaphor, language is seen as coming from your primary caregiver, the person who looked after you most when you were young, and traditionally this was mothers. So, this is perhaps the point of origin, the starting place,of the metaphorical phrase, mother tongue.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on bbc.co.uk


What is called mother tongue?

Definition. Mother tongue refers to the first language learned at home in childhood and still understood by the person at the time the data was collected. If the person no longer understands the first language learned, the mother tongue is the second language learned.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on www23.statcan.gc.ca


Is mother tongue first language?

Mother tongue is the in-born language, which a baby has already familiarized even in the gestation of mother before it was born. The first language is the language which a child acquires either through schooling or socialization, such as family.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on researchgate.net


Is it correct to say mother tongue?

'Mother tongue' is fine, as are 'first language' or 'native language'. Mother tongue is not used in American English.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on forum.wordreference.com


Why mother tongue is not necessary mother's tongue?

Our own cultural milieu, history, social relations, native emotions became part of our words. Mother tongue is what we learn from birth and each word is learnt with all its background, history, and linkages without us noticing it. A lot of meaning is also imbibed from our social environment, naturally and effortlessly.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on thehindu.com


What is the example of mother tongue?

Mother tongue is defined as the first language that a person learns and the language used in that person's home country. An example of mother tongue is English for someone born in America.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on yourdictionary.com


How do you determine mother tongue?

Go with the literal meaning. Tamil is your mother tongue! Jokes apart, A first language (also native language, mother tongue, arterial language, or L1) is the language or are the languages a person has learned from birth or that a person speaks the best and so is often the basis for sociolinguistic identity .
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on quora.com


What is special about mother tongue?

Mother tongue is vital in framing the thinking and emotions of people. Learning to speak in the mother tongue is very necessary for a child's comprehensive development. Being fluent in the mother tongue, which is also known as the native language, benefits the child in numerous ways.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on researchgate.net


What is the oldest language in the world?

World's oldest language is Sanskrit. The Sanskrit language is called Devbhasha. All European languages ​​seem inspired by Sanskrit. All the universities and educational institutions spread across the world consider Sanskrit as the most ancient language.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on timesofindia.indiatimes.com


What's the first language?

Thus, given this evidence, Sumerian can also be considered the first language in the world. Sumerian was gradually replaced by Akkadian as a spoken language around 2000 BC, but it continued to be used as a literary, ceremonial, scientific and sacred language until the 1st century AD.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mondly.com


What's the first language in the world?

Tamil. Tamil is the oldest language still in use today. By order of appearance, the Tamil language (part of the family of Dravidian languages) would be considered the world's oldest living language as it is over 5,000 years old, with its first grammar book having made its first appearance in 3,000 BC.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on daytranslations.com


Can English be my first language?

Yes, if you want to. Native or bilingual proficiency is rated 5 on the scale. A person at this level is as fluent as an educated native speaker.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on english.stackexchange.com


Is it OK to say native language?

American Indian, Indian, Native American, or Native are acceptable and often used interchangeably in the United States; however, Native Peoples often have individual preferences on how they would like to be addressed. To find out which term is best, ask the person or group which term they prefer.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on americanindian.si.edu


Can your first language change?

Studies on international adoptees have found that even nine-year-olds can almost completely forget their first language when they are removed from their country of birth. But in adults, the first language is unlikely to disappear entirely except in extreme circumstances.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on bbc.com


Which language is considered toughest to master?

1. Mandarin Chinese. Interestingly, the hardest language to learn is also the most widely spoken native language in the world.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on babbel.com


Which is the first language that a child learns?

First or Home Language is the language first taught to a child or the language learned from birth, before the age of 3. It is usually the language heard by the child at home and used by parents for daily communication.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on kidsnewtocanada.ca


Is there a dominant language?

The dominant language is the language with which a bilingual or multilingual speaker has greatest proficiency and/or uses more often. See primary language.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on colorincolorado.org
Previous question
Does testosterone make you stronger?