1.
first language; native language; mother tongue
The language a person acquires first as a child, typically the language spoken at home. A term used in linguistics and education.
A linguistic term for the language a person learns first, often used in academic and educational contexts. Abbreviated as L1 in linguistics.
Common collocations
- 第一言語の習得: first language acquisition
- 第一言語話者: native speaker (of a first language)
- 第一言語と第二言語: first language and second language
Similar words
- 母語: mother tongue — the most common everyday term for one's native language
- 母国語: national language of one's home country — slightly different nuance; refers to the language of one's country rather than what one acquired first
- 第二言語: second language (L2) — the complement to 第一言語
Usage
More technical than 母語. Used particularly in discussions of language acquisition, bilingualism, and language education policy. Important in contexts where a person may have grown up speaking a different language from the dominant language of their country.