Definition of First language

1. Noun. One's native language; the language learned by children and passed from one generation to the next.

Exact synonyms: Maternal Language, Mother Tongue
Generic synonyms: Natural Language, Tongue

Definition of First language

1. Noun. the first language one is taught to speak; one's native language. ¹

2. Noun. the language one feels most comfortable and capable with ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of First Language

first gears
first grade
first grades
first half
first hand
first harmonic
first heart sound
first imperative
first imperatives
first in first out
first innings
first inversion
first inversions
first island chain
first lady
first language (current term)
first languages
first law of motion
first law of thermodynamics
first lieutenant
first light
first line manager
first loser
first love
first mate
first mates
first meiotic division
first milk
first minister
first molar

Literary usage of First language

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Foundations of History: A Series of First Things by Samuel Bradhurst Schieffelin (1875)
"THE first language. IT appears that as soon as Adam and Eve were created they could talk. They were not only made able at once to speak, but with the power ..."

2. Origin of Language and Myths by Morgan Peter Kavanagh (1871)
"MAN'S first language OF ARTICULATE SOUNDS. AND this O was not only man's first word, but even his first language, for a single word may, ..."

3. The Principles of Language-study by Harold E. Palmer (1921)
"Their first language had interfered in no way with their power of acquiring the second. There were, however, exceptions ; in some instances the possession ..."

4. History of the Problems of Philosophy by Paul Janet, Gabriel Séailles (1902)
"Condillac was wrong in maintaining that the first language was a ... The first language was figurative ; it expressed the passion roused by an object rather ..."

5. Language and the Study of Language: Twelve Lectures on the Principles of by William Dwight Whitney (1889)
"... principle of the first language-making; value cf tone tod gesture. 21. ... first language; rise and final prevalence of word-making by derivation. kl. ..."

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