Dictionary

birthtongue en · NOUN

Etymology

From Middle English burþe tonge, equivalent to birth + tongue.

Meanings

1. (rare) One's first language, learnt in early childhood; native language.
   • Other forms of cultural non-homogeneity (birthtongue or ethnic identity, for example) have, in the generally supportive nature of the group process, tended to become not only not a problem, […] 1998, Wojciech W. Gasparski, David Botham, Action Learning, page 112:
   • In replying timidly, Anita revealed her foreign accent, which was instantly observed. “You are American, of course? No? English? Ah, how stupid I am!" Forthwith he began to talk fluently in German, though Anita saw it was not his birthtongue. 1880, All the Year Round, volume 25, page 203:
   • When this warning failed to cure the boys of recklessness, he made them recite the first apothegm of Tholjassan battle-dance at the start of every lesson — not just in Arquali, but also in their individual birthtongues: […] 2010, Robert V. S. Redick, The Ruling Sea, page 195:
   • And now I place them, palms up, wrong five-legged beasts with their underbellies exposed, on the desk for you who have told me, in your own broken wedding of English and your birthtongue, […] 1976, Albert Goldbarth, Comings Back: A Sequence of Poems, page 78:
   • Faan talked constantly to herself and to anyone who'd listen, mixing the Fadogur she was learning with her birthtongue in a hash of sound that gradually grew more comprehensible. 1991, Jo Clayton, Wild Magic, page 48:
   • "No problem. Neo-Gaesh, and that's Orlen's birthtongue." 1990, Anne McCaffrey, Elizabeth Moon, Sassinak:

Forms