why is knowing and speaking ur mother tongue important ?

Answer 1

To keep tradition and heritage alive. I know that my grandfather is upset that none of his children or grandchildren speak Norwegian. He says no one will keep the tradition, and when he dies no one will be around to give the traditional Norwegian euology. I swore to him that I would learn it, even if I am just memorizing words I don't know. I feel I should learn it because it is part of who I am, but at the same time...How mant Norwegians to you meet on a daily basis?

Answer 2

Because its easy!

Your "Mother Tongue" is the language that you first learn, usually from your mother (my mother tongue is Scouse). It decidedly does not refer to an ethnically based concept of ownership of or duty towards the language. If you're of Norwegian descent but learnt English first then English is your Mother Tongue. "Heritage" may well be a good thing, but Mother Tongues have nothing to do with it.

Languages have been dying out and continue to die out as the world's languages consolidate. Think of English, derived originally from the dialect of a tiny part of what is now Germany, has supplanted so many languages over the world. Pre-Columbian North America had hundreds on languages where now it basically has one - a sort of English with a few minority languages.

I feel for those, like the Norwegian grandfather, who see their world disappearing. I feel for them without wanting the language part of their world to survive: communication is a great thing and if we ever get to the stage where everyone learns English as their Mother Tongue we can start really communicating globally.

Answer 3

Partly for culture and heritage, but also because different cultures express themselves differently, through sentence construction, ways of saying things etc. This is partly why diversity of language is so important and wonderful. There are certain things and ideas, which are best expressed in different languages, and ways of thinking which would be lost, if these languages were to be lost.

Answer 4

I think its different for each person: being able to communicate with your elders, to keep in touch with your heritage and pass it on to your children, preserve the language if it is rare, help you excel in your career field because you are bilingual, educate others about the language and culture. Overall I believe it is also very important for your identity and developing a more well rounded picture of who you are.

Answer 5

To keep the family heritage going :)

Answer 6

To carry on heritage.

Answer 7

to keep your roots alive