For most people, learning a new language is a challenging, long-term commitment that requires daily dedication and air-tight focus. When you’re first starting out, you may notice that your train of thought “pauses” as it works to switch from your native language to your new language. As time goes on and you become stronger in your ability to utilize and make conversation in your new language, you will likely notice that the amount of time it takes you to “switch” languages becomes shorter and shorter.
For many new language learners, this prompts the question – is it possible for this processing time to disappear altogether? If so, is it possible to think entirely in your new language, or even forget your old language? The answer is a little more complicated than you might think. While it is possible for some bilingual individuals to lose their native language over time, this is a somewhat uncommon phenomenon that relies on many external factors to occur.
What is Native Language Attrition?
A complete or partial loss of proficiency in a native language is commonly known as native language attrition or first language attrition. Native language attrition is typically present among individuals who rely heavily on their second language while rarely using their native language over a long period of time. It is almost non-existent among language hobbyists who simply learn a new language before traveling in a foreign country on vacation or students who learn a new language in school. Rather, individuals who observe native language attrition are almost always immigrants (often young children) who spend many, many years away from their communities and exclusively use the language of their new country. Keep in mind this is a simplified explanation for this phenomenon. Beyond a lack of exposure, there are many compounding reasons why a person may experience native language attrition.
What Causes Someone to Lose Their Native Language?
Apart from a general lack of exposure to your first language and a strong reliance on your new language in your day-to-day life, there are several other reasons why you may be losing your native language. One common explanation may be a psychological association with your first language. Many immigrants who flee a traumatic situation in their country of origin, often associate their native language with their trauma – whether consciously or subconsciously. This often results in them using their first language as little as possible in order to avoid the trauma resurfacing.
Another common reason why a person may be losing their native language is the age when they begin learning their new language or society’s response to them using their first language. Young children who migrate to a new country at a young age, typically before the age of ten, may not have been fully developed in their native language, causing them to become more developed in their new language. Additionally, they may have been reprimanded at school, by their parents, or in social situations to only speak their new language, as opposed to their first language, causing the further decline of their native tongue.
How to Relearn a Native Language
When individuals realize that their native language was lost or has significantly declined with little utilization, they often feel a sense of heartbreak at the loss. Though functionally, they may not need to use their native language in their day-to-day life, emotionally, they may still have an attachment to it.
Fortunately, relearning your old language is often easier than learning a new language, and many individuals find that they re-learn their old language faster than expected. The methods are often the same – language learning apps, reference books, tutors, and social clubs are all valuable resources for those looking to re-learn their old language. If you feel that you may be having trouble accessing your first language due to personal trauma associated with speaking it, you may want to consider seeing a mental health professional who specializes in native language attrition issues to clear the block you’re experiencing.
Do You Need Immediate Translation Help?
Relearning your old language, though quicker than learning a new language, can still take time. If you need to communicate in your native language or immediate translation help (such as certified translation or standard translation) that requires a professional approach, consider hiring one of our translators. US Language Services has over 15 years of experience providing a variety of translation services in over 35 languages. Contact us at (240) 673-2933 or via email at info@uslanguageservices.com for a consultation.
