Mother tongue – Our very first language; It is the language with which a person has grown up speaking from early childhood. Every language is unique and represents a special culture. It is the language that the child learns almost without any conscious effort on his part. The language is certainly one of the most precious assets in our lives. Since it is the very first language that a child is exposed to, a child’s psychological and personality development depends on it. The expression of first feeling, happiness, fears, and first words are in the mother tongue. It plays a vital role in framing our thinking, emotions and spiritual world, because the most important stage of our life, childhood, is spent in its imprints.
In the field of education, our country deals with approximately 37 boards that catering to the regional languages to suit the local populace. Students have the option of writing the examinations in their respective mother tongues. The largest board still remains CBSE though, conducting examinations in English, since the English language is seen to be more progressive and aids in students being accepted better in their future endeavours. It is a small wonder therefore that supplementary materials like CBSE online study material are found in abundance for this board.
Mother tongue proves to be an effortless and efficient way of expressing. Hence, it is very powerful in grooming our social skills like mutual communication and exchange of ideas. Reading, expressing oneself, acquisition of knowledge and reasoning are the instruments for bringing about intellectual development; and all of these are possible only through language, or the mother tongue of the child. Moreover research has shown that many skills acquired in the first language can be transferred to the second language. So, if the child has developed good reading skills in his first language, he/she is likely to be able to apply these skills in the other language too. Mother tongue plays a tremendously useful role in the education of a child. Education-wise, students who learn a second language and continue to develop their native language would have chances of higher academic achievement in later years. Children who come to school with a solid foundation in their mother tongue develop stronger literacy abilities in the school language. It is through language, and especially through the mother tongue, that individuals integrate themselves into a social organisation. Besides intellectual development it lays the base for a sound emotional development of the individual. A child's mother tongue would help the child to value his or her culture and heritage, which contributes to positive self-concept. It gives a sense of belonging to one. Thus, one should be proud of our Mother tongue and preserve it with care.