anyanyelv

Anyanyelv is a term used in Hungarian and linguistic contexts to denote the concept of a person’s mother tongue or native language. It is commonly understood as the language that a person learns from birth, typically the language spoken in the home during early childhood, and often the language in which the person first becomes literate. The label underscores the personal and social ties between language and identity, though its exact definition can vary by context.

In linguistic and educational research, anyanyelv is often contrasted with later acquired languages. It is typically the language in which early cognitive and social development occurs and the one that shapes early vocabulary and grammar. However, many people grow up in multilingual environments where several languages are used at home, making the anyanyelv one of several native-leaning languages or the language of strongest early exposure rather than current fluency.

Definitional ambiguity is common in practice. Some surveys ask respondents to identify their "mother tongue" as the language they first learned, while others consider the language spoken most often at home. For policy, acknowledging the anyanyelv can support mother-tongue education and culturally appropriate services, though implementation varies by country, region, and community. In multilingual nations, the concept interacts with national languages, minority languages, and language rights.