Lucía Ringuelet
While doing some research for another EDSL course, I came across the results of a 2016 census. I thought the data was presented in a very fun way. Here is the link: play around, and enjoy!
https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/dv-vd/lang/index-eng.cfm
The results kept me thinking about the concept of “mother tongue,” one that for a long time I thought to be simple and straightforward. Today, as an immigrant in very multicultural country and a current student in Second Language Education, however, the concept seems less and less simple and straightforward. I looked through our Van Herk textbook for reference, but this term is unfortunately not defined in it. The Cambridge English Dictionary defines it as “The first language that you learn when you are a baby, rather than a language learned at school or as an adult.” It appears indeed that “mother tongue” is used as a synonym of “first language,” the language of the “native speaker.” This brings two big questions to mind:
Continue reading “Mother Tongues of Canada”