Förstahandspråk

Förstahandspråk, also known as a native language or mother tongue, refers to the language acquired by a person during early childhood. This is typically the language spoken by the parents or primary caregivers in the home environment. The process of acquiring a first language is largely unconscious and occurs naturally as a child interacts with their surroundings. It is the language through which a person first learns to think, communicate, and understand the world.

The development of a first language involves mastering grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and social conventions associated with that language. Children learn by listening, imitating, and receiving feedback. While the first language is usually learned from birth, the term can also encompass languages learned at a very young age by immersion. For individuals who grow up in bilingual or multilingual households, they may acquire more than one first language simultaneously. The first language plays a crucial role in cognitive development and forms the foundation for learning subsequent languages. It is deeply intertwined with personal identity and cultural belonging.