1 Golden Rule to protect children from Language attrition in UK

 

"The greatest propaganda in the world is our mother tongue,that is what we learn as children,and which we learn unconciously.That shapes our perceptions for life.That is propaganda at its most extreme form".(Marshall McLuhan)

           Language is one of the most important part of the life to express our feelings and needs. we have a great love for our mother tongue language than any other languages.Our native language is a huge asset for us. 

          But  I can notice most of the children in UK who  forget their first  language and becoming fluent in second new language that they acquired just a year before.This is because of the isolation from first language speakers and  accessing a second language. Children are more prone to language attrition than adults.Children between the age of 3 -18 are mostly affected by this.

          Have you ever wondered of your child returning from school and speaking in a second language with their siblings?Is it something to cherish or worry about  the children rottening our Mother tongue.

          On our way to my son’s school  many people are surprised to see him talking in Tamil,our mother tongue and asks me “vow,Does he knows Tamil”.Why are they so surprised,why? Whereas I am surprised to see a native Tamil speaking family chating in English between them.Are they feeling it shy to speak in their native language in a English Country?We are all humans and if we get hurted accidentally,the next word that we utter is to call our mom in our mother tongue “Amma”…… and not “Ohhh Mom……”

         Do they feel that it is difficult for their child to catch up with English if spoken in their mother tongue?Its not true.The child learns the second language by themselves.They speak it out  to express their needs and for a chat with their friends in a surrounding with second language dominats.

•      Talk in mother tongue with children on personal conversations:

         When a child is exposed to a second language dominant environment,language attrition may occur when there is no effort put forward to maintain the first language. It  is the responsibility of us parents to take effort to maintain our first language.Not a very huge effort, “Just talk”…….Just talk to the child in your mother tongue and protect the child from language attrition.

          " One language sets you in a corridor for life.Two languages open every door along the way"- (Frank Smith)

          So instead of saying proudly that “My child doesn’t know mother tongue,its long since we moved from that country”…...Say it proudly “My child is Bilingual, he/she can manage both the languages”……….

            That sounds good!!!Ryttt!!!