JOURNAL ARTICLE

Why I'm Teaching My Daughter My Mother's Language.

  • Published In: Time.com, 2024. P. N.PAG 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Obreht, Téa 3 of 3

Abstract

This essay focuses on the importance of preserving mother tongues within multilingual families, as illustrated by the author’s experience raising her daughter to speak Serbian, Irish, and English. It highlights how minority languages like Irish and Serbian, though limited in global reach, serve as vital cultural containers and protective tools that maintain family bonds and identity across generations. The author reflects on her own upbringing in a multilingual household shaped by displacement and conflict, emphasizing that language preservation is less about utility in communication and more about sustaining heritage, emotional connection, and adaptability for future uncertainties.

Additional Information

  • Source:Time.com. 2024/03, pN.PAG
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Literature and Writing
  • Publication Date:2024
  • ISSN:2476-2679
  • Accession Number:176118208
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