father tongue
father tongue · father tongues
A separate language for expressing ideas, as opposed to the vernacular which is…A separate language for expressing ideas, as opposed to the vernacular (mother tongue) which is employed for everyday speech.
UK/ˈfɑː.ðə ˌtʌŋ/US/ˈfɑ.ðɚ ˌtʌŋ/
Meaning
4 sensesA separate language for expressing ideas, as opposed to the vernacular (mother tongue) which is employed for everyday speech.
The form of language acquired through education and reading, as opposed to the dialect one grows up speaking; educated or formal language.
A second language that one speaks fluently.
The language spoken by one's father, when it differs from that spoken by one's mother.
Origin
From father + tongue (“language”), modelled after mother tongue.From father + tongue (“language”), modelled after mother tongue.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: father tongues| Singular | father tongue |
|---|---|
| Plural | father tongues |
regular