Should mother tongue be the first language spoken by a child? Yes, of course I hear you say. It’s not as easy to achieve for some. Homes vary as do people within those homes. Linguistic ability and home situations differ but as afar as possible I believe this should be the case. To be bilingual is a blessing and I thank my parents for giving me that gift. I was given the basics and was able to develop my language further as an adult plunged into the deep end with in-laws and others outside my secure family environment. That’s when the test comes! I regret not passing it on to my children to the level I would have liked but Insha Allah my grandchildren will become bilingual. You need to stick at it and not give up.
