2006-07-09 04:24:20 · 17 answers · asked by pr89 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
I don't think it's bad, just lost opportunity. Give yourself a chance and study it, either on your own or in a class. You will feel a real sense of accomplishment when you learn it...
Good luck!!
2006-07-09 04:29:28 · answer #1 · answered by valisme 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I'm not sure what you mean by mother tongue--I would mean as Taivo said, the language you learned first as a child. However, I disagree that everyone can speak their mother tongue; I know at least one person who has completely lost hers. I think THAT is a shame, yes. (Not necessarily so much in her case--she can't stand her mother...)
To not know how to speak your PARENTS' first language(s) is also a shame and a waste of human understanding, but can't normally be considered your own fault.
English is my first language, going back several generations, but I wish we hadn't lost the Gaelic way-back-when. My children now speak (yes fluently) the three languages of their respective great-grandparents. (Although they don't usually speak Swiss-German with their originally Swiss-German great-grandfather...who never spoke/speaks it with his own children.)
2006-07-10 18:06:40 · answer #2 · answered by Goddess of Grammar 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's unfortunate. It's not bad in as much as it is unlikely to be your fault that you can't speak the language, rather it is your parents'.
However, once you reach adulthood blame cannot be apportioned. I lost my mother tongue after migrating from one country to another. I am now doing my best to relearn it. It takes time and dedication and it's not easy, but as a means of re-identifying who you are and where you came from it can not be beaten.
2006-07-09 11:56:30 · answer #3 · answered by the last ninja 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By definition, everyone who can speak speaks their mother tongue. "Mother tongue" is the language you learn first as a child. So unless a child is deaf or mute, every single child speaks their mother tongue.
2006-07-09 16:18:08 · answer #4 · answered by Taivo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you don't know how to speak it, it's definitely not your mother tongue.
2006-07-10 19:56:21 · answer #5 · answered by DNE 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it makes everything much less convienent for you- partly because you don't know the language that's being spoken all around you, and partly because it makes you look bad and then other people don't respect you as much.
2006-07-09 11:27:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes i think so because your losing the opportunity to learn and communicate the language of your heritage.
2006-07-09 13:31:08 · answer #7 · answered by xxikickers 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't say it's BAD. But, I think you are missing out on something special about your heritage.
2006-07-09 11:27:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes it's terrible, i never learned how to speak my native language.
2006-07-09 11:27:51 · answer #9 · answered by slugworm88 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no,i cant e1 speak muy national,lingo properly dats hindi, i mix it up wid marathi my mother tong
2006-07-09 11:28:32 · answer #10 · answered by pratham_not_edna 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋