There seem to be many different ways of defining "mother tongue". Which would you accept?
QUOTE Defining mother tongue Based on origin: the language(s) one learned first (the language(s) in which one has established the first long-lasting verbal contacts). Based on internal identification: the language(s) one identifies with/as a speaker of; Based on external identification: the language(s) one is identified with/as a speaker of, by others. Based on competence: the language(s) one knows best. Based on function: the language(s) one uses most. UNQUOTE Further, see this: QUOTE The Brazilian linguist Cleo Altenhofen considers the denomination "mother tongue" in its general usage to be imprecise and subject to various interpretations that are biased linguistically, especially with respect to bilingual children from ethnic minority groups. UNQUOTE This seems relevant to the debate: QUOTE 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. For instance, a French-speaking couple might have a daughter who learned French first, then English; but if she were to grow up in an English-speaking country, she would likely be proficient in English. Other examples are India and South Africa, where most people speak more than one language. UNQUOTE Finally: QUOTE The term mother language should not be interpreted to mean that it is the language of one's mother. In some paternal societies, the wife moves in with the husband and thus may have a different first language than the husband. Mother in this context originated from the use of "mother" to mean "origin" as in motherland. In some countries such as Kenya, India, and various East Asian countries, "mother language" or "native language" is used to indicate the language of one's ethnic group, in both common and journalistic parlance (e.g. 'I have no apologies for not learning my mother tongue'), rather than one's first language. Also in Singapore, "mother tongue" refers to the language of one's ethnic group regardless of actual proficiency, while the "first language" refers to the English language that was established on the island through British colonisation, which is the lingua franca for most post-independence Singaporeans due to its use as the language of instruction in government schools and as a working language. UNQUOTE Source of all: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_tongue FN +91-832-2409490 or +91-9822122436 (after 2pm) #784 Nr Lourdes Convent, Saligao 403511 Goa India http://fn.goa-india.org http://goa1556.goa-india.org On 14 April 2011 10:31, Tony de Sa <[email protected]> wrote: > Great one Cecil. Underlines the dilemma which the Goans are facing. > Let the Regional Language Diehards read and learn. > > -- > > Tony de Sa. tonydesa at gmail dot com > > ^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v >
