First language

Several terms redirect here. For other uses, see First Language (journal), Mother tongue (disambiguation), Father tongue hypothesis, and Native Speaker (disambiguation).
For the hypothetical predecessor of all spoken languages, see Proto-human language.

The monument to the mother tongue (ana dili) in Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan

A first language (L1), native language, native tongue, or mother tongue is the first language a person has been exposed to from birth[1] or within the critical period. In some countries, the term native language or mother tongue refers to the language of one's ethnic group rather than the individual's actual first language. Generally, to state a language as a mother tongue, one must have full native fluency in that language.[2]

The first language of a child is part of that child's personal, social and cultural identity.[3] Another impact of the first language is that it brings about the reflection and learning of successful social patterns of acting and speaking.[clarification needed][4] Research suggests that while a non-native speaker may develop fluency in a targeted language after about two years of immersion, it can take between five and seven years for that child to be on the same working level as their native speaking counterparts.[5]

On 17 November 1999, UNESCO designated 21 February as International Mother Language Day.

  1. ^ Bloomfield, Leonard. Language Archived 17 January 2023 at the Wayback Machine ISBN 81-208-1196-8
  2. ^ Davies, Alan (2003). The Native Speaker: Myth and Reality. Multilingual Matters. ISBN 1-85359-622-1. Archived from the original on 17 January 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2015. [page needed]
  3. ^ "Terri Hirst: The Importance of Maintaining a Childs First Language". bisnet.or.id. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  4. ^ Boroditsky, Lera (2001). "Does language shape thought?: Mandarin and English speakers' conceptions of time" (PDF). Cognitive Psychology. 43 (1): 1–22. doi:10.1006/cogp.2001.0748. PMID 11487292. S2CID 5838599. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 May 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
  5. ^ "IRIS | Page 5: Language Acquisition". iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2022.