This document defines key language terms including: first/second/third language, mother tongue, lingua franca, national language, foreign language, international language, and local language. It provides concise definitions for each term, explaining concepts like a first language being what is learned first, a second language being learned after one's native tongue, and a third language being non-native but learned after two others. Key distinctions are made between languages like a national language being widely used within a nation versus a foreign language not being as widely spoken.
This document defines key language terms including: first/second/third language, mother tongue, lingua franca, national language, foreign language, international language, and local language. It provides concise definitions for each term, explaining concepts like a first language being what is learned first, a second language being learned after one's native tongue, and a third language being non-native but learned after two others. Key distinctions are made between languages like a national language being widely used within a nation versus a foreign language not being as widely spoken.
This document defines key language terms including: first/second/third language, mother tongue, lingua franca, national language, foreign language, international language, and local language. It provides concise definitions for each term, explaining concepts like a first language being what is learned first, a second language being learned after one's native tongue, and a third language being non-native but learned after two others. Key distinctions are made between languages like a national language being widely used within a nation versus a foreign language not being as widely spoken.
1 First/second/third/fourth/.... First language is the language that someone learns to
language speak first. Second language is a language learned by a person after his or her native language, especially as a resident of an area where it is in general use. Third language is a non-native language learned by someone who have previously acquired or are acquiring two other languages.
2 Mother tongue The language which a person has grown up speaking
from early childhood.
3 Lingua Franca Language that is widely used as a common means of
communication among speakers of other languages.
4 National Language A language spoken by a large proportion of the
inhabitants of a nation; an official language in a particular nation, typically recognized and adopted by government or in legislature.
5 Foreign Language A foreign language is a language not widely spoken
and used by the people of a community / society / nation.
6 International Language A language intended to be used by people of different
linguistic backgrounds to facilitate communication among them and to reduce the misunderstandings and antagonisms caused by language differences.
7 Local Language Local Language means the language declared by the
concerned State Government as their official language.