Mother Tongue Effect: How Speaking Your Native Language Strengthens Bonds
Yuvraj Nanda | Feb 06, 2025, 00:57 IST
Speaking in your native language isn’t just about words, but also the connection it builds between individuals. Whether with family, friends, or even strangers who we barely know, language is one thing that creates a sense of belonging, nostalgia, and comfort. This article explores how native tongue strengthens bonds in ways we often overlook.
Relationships are strange. Whether it’s between a mother and a son, or two siblings, two friends, a couple or even just colleagues. You never know what little element between you leads to a bond that lasts a lifetime. Language — one such element, nobody knows how large or little, works in such a manner. You would notice the impact of how communicating in your native language, with someone else, even if stranger who understands your language, especially if you live in a place where it is rarely heard. For instance, two people from Haryana, familiar with the regional tongue, even if are completely unrelated to each other are studying in Chennai amongst South Indians, can form a connection for ages to come in their lives, merely because of speaking in their mother tongue to each other.
Your language is a representation of your identity. It showcases your culture, your background, your roots or even the character and ethics that you possess. As an authentic portrayal of your true self, here is why communicating in your native language strengthens relationships like nothing else does:
Most of us have talked in our native language at some point or the other, whether on a daily basis at home, or occasionally visiting our relatives, or with peers with a similar background. But have we ever noticed how effortless and truthful the conversations feel in the mother tongue? The reason is that language, as a concept is intensely affiliated to our emotional state of being. When we speak the language that belongs to our culture, we organically express ourselves better, which makes all the interactions appear more genuine, natural and heartfelt.
Less Pressure: You do not need to struggle with using the right vocabulary or pronunciation, and this leads to the conversations feeling more natural and stress-free.
Trust Factor: Our brain works in such a way that it subconsciously associates our native language with safety and the element of familiarity, making the conversation more trustable and genuine.
A language is surely not just the blend of its words. It carries with itself history, traditions, and variations of heritage that the outsiders might not keenly be able to grasp. To speak in your mother tongue leads to quickly being able to create a sense of familiar belonging, especially when relatable references and inside jokes come into play.
For Example: A person from Punjab and another person from Tamil Nadu can simply have a conversation in English, but when a Punjabi speaks with another Punjabi, sentences like “Ki haal aa?” (How are you?) or “Kithon aaya va?” (Where have you come from?) bring a different energy of belonging and connection between the individuals.
Quick Understanding: There are some emotions, thoughts, or ideas that can only be completely conveyed in your own language. Any use of any other language defeats the whole purpose of it, mostly during humorous moments.
Deepened Bond: To discuss traditions, rituals, and experiences from the childhood, or the native area in your tongue enhances mutual appreciation and strengthens the bond.
No matter how many times we translate what we mean to say from one language to another, what is certain is that almost every language has words, phrases, or even slangs that do not have an exact translation and carry an emotion that is limited to that specific tongue. When you speak in your language, you have the privilege to use these different expressions that carry a larger meaning.
For example, in Hindi, “Jugaad” loosely translates to a life hack, but the flavour of this word can only be entirely described or even interpreted by a person who speaks and understands Hindi. While one can describe the meaning as finding creative solutions with limited resources, Jugaad, the word in itself is much richer. Similarly, in Bangla, the word “Adda” refers to a scenario of a deep, endless conversation filled with stories, humour, and emotions, now this is something that the English word “chat” emotionally fails to capture.
Nuances Matter: Sometimes, saying “I miss you” in English does not hit the right spot in our hearts as saying “Teri yaad aa rahi thi” in Hindi or Urdu.
Emotional Depth: Usage of regional or native words adds more layers of meaning, filled with emotion that languages which are secondary to us cannot always replicate.
In the current times, one can notice that in almost every household in the urban part of the country, the older generations of parents or grandparents might prefer speaking in their native language, for that is what they have picked up from their elders and have grown up speaking in. However, the younger generations in metropolitan cities have become bound to being heavily fluent in the relatively more common languages, either through their schooling or the evolution of vocabulary.However, it is best to maintain a balance between the languages of work and profession and the languages of the emotion. Regardless of how much the usage of English takes our lives to a different dimension, one must always keep their roots with themselves and that comes with communicating in the language you truly belong to. These conversations in the mother tongue help in keeping the family bonds very strong.
Example: A grandmother who only speaks in Gujarati will always feel emotionally closer to a grandchild who responds to her in Gujarati rather than English.
Preserving Culture: Speaking in your language keeps the family traditions and heritage alive for generations.
Showing Respect: Older generations of the families always appreciate it when their children or the rest of the younger family members use their mother tongue, which helps in strengthening emotional bonds.
Have you ever been overseas or even in a different Indian state and suddenly heard someone speaking your language? That very moment of recognition is what instantly fuels the creation of a bond, making you feel at home even if you’re miles away.Shared Background: Even if you’re strangers, speaking the same language makes you feel connected.
Stronger Networking: Whether in business or social settings, speaking in your native tongue can lead to friendships, collaborations, or unexpected support.
Language is more than a mere tool for conversation. Whether with family, friends, or strangers, speaking in your native tongue brings a sense of comfort, understanding, and shared identity that no other language can replicate.
So the next time you meet someone who speaks your language, embrace it. You’re not just exchanging words, but also seeking to build a connection that goes beyond words themselves.
Your language is a representation of your identity. It showcases your culture, your background, your roots or even the character and ethics that you possess. As an authentic portrayal of your true self, here is why communicating in your native language strengthens relationships like nothing else does:
1: Comfort and Trust
Two men talking comfortably.
Most of us have talked in our native language at some point or the other, whether on a daily basis at home, or occasionally visiting our relatives, or with peers with a similar background. But have we ever noticed how effortless and truthful the conversations feel in the mother tongue? The reason is that language, as a concept is intensely affiliated to our emotional state of being. When we speak the language that belongs to our culture, we organically express ourselves better, which makes all the interactions appear more genuine, natural and heartfelt.
Why This Strengthens Bonds?
Less Pressure: You do not need to struggle with using the right vocabulary or pronunciation, and this leads to the conversations feeling more natural and stress-free.
Trust Factor: Our brain works in such a way that it subconsciously associates our native language with safety and the element of familiarity, making the conversation more trustable and genuine.
2. Shared Culture
Two Sikh-Punjabi men interacting.
A language is surely not just the blend of its words. It carries with itself history, traditions, and variations of heritage that the outsiders might not keenly be able to grasp. To speak in your mother tongue leads to quickly being able to create a sense of familiar belonging, especially when relatable references and inside jokes come into play.
For Example: A person from Punjab and another person from Tamil Nadu can simply have a conversation in English, but when a Punjabi speaks with another Punjabi, sentences like “Ki haal aa?” (How are you?) or “Kithon aaya va?” (Where have you come from?) bring a different energy of belonging and connection between the individuals.
How This Helps Relationships?
Quick Understanding: There are some emotions, thoughts, or ideas that can only be completely conveyed in your own language. Any use of any other language defeats the whole purpose of it, mostly during humorous moments.
Deepened Bond: To discuss traditions, rituals, and experiences from the childhood, or the native area in your tongue enhances mutual appreciation and strengthens the bond.
3. Exclusive Words and Humour Impact
Two men indulging in a humorous conversation
No matter how many times we translate what we mean to say from one language to another, what is certain is that almost every language has words, phrases, or even slangs that do not have an exact translation and carry an emotion that is limited to that specific tongue. When you speak in your language, you have the privilege to use these different expressions that carry a larger meaning.
For example, in Hindi, “Jugaad” loosely translates to a life hack, but the flavour of this word can only be entirely described or even interpreted by a person who speaks and understands Hindi. While one can describe the meaning as finding creative solutions with limited resources, Jugaad, the word in itself is much richer. Similarly, in Bangla, the word “Adda” refers to a scenario of a deep, endless conversation filled with stories, humour, and emotions, now this is something that the English word “chat” emotionally fails to capture.
Why This Builds Stronger Connections?
Emotional Depth: Usage of regional or native words adds more layers of meaning, filled with emotion that languages which are secondary to us cannot always replicate.
4. Strengthening Family Ties Across Generations
An old man with his granddaughter.
In the current times, one can notice that in almost every household in the urban part of the country, the older generations of parents or grandparents might prefer speaking in their native language, for that is what they have picked up from their elders and have grown up speaking in. However, the younger generations in metropolitan cities have become bound to being heavily fluent in the relatively more common languages, either through their schooling or the evolution of vocabulary.However, it is best to maintain a balance between the languages of work and profession and the languages of the emotion. Regardless of how much the usage of English takes our lives to a different dimension, one must always keep their roots with themselves and that comes with communicating in the language you truly belong to. These conversations in the mother tongue help in keeping the family bonds very strong.
Example: A grandmother who only speaks in Gujarati will always feel emotionally closer to a grandchild who responds to her in Gujarati rather than English.
Benefits for Relationships:
Preserving Culture: Speaking in your language keeps the family traditions and heritage alive for generations.
Showing Respect: Older generations of the families always appreciate it when their children or the rest of the younger family members use their mother tongue, which helps in strengthening emotional bonds.
5. Icebreaker With Strangers
Two women talking
Have you ever been overseas or even in a different Indian state and suddenly heard someone speaking your language? That very moment of recognition is what instantly fuels the creation of a bond, making you feel at home even if you’re miles away.
Why This Works?
Stronger Networking: Whether in business or social settings, speaking in your native tongue can lead to friendships, collaborations, or unexpected support.
Language is more than a mere tool for conversation. Whether with family, friends, or strangers, speaking in your native tongue brings a sense of comfort, understanding, and shared identity that no other language can replicate.
So the next time you meet someone who speaks your language, embrace it. You’re not just exchanging words, but also seeking to build a connection that goes beyond words themselves.