In today's society, our traditional cultural values and identity are at
risk. We have to make a conscious effort to ensure that, we do not lose touch
with our cultural heritage/culture. One of the important features of a cultural
identity is the ability to speak one's mother tongue. One's mother tongue would
be the language spoken by members of the same race, same location or place.
There may be some who may argue that it would be better, if everyone spoke
the same language, so as to promote communication and closer ties between the
different peoples of the world. It is very easy to speak or express our
thought/idea in our own mother tongue, rather in different language. A mother
tongue spoken helps to bind a people together and promote the positive values
of a culture. If we are well grounded and know where we come from and what
kinds of behaviour are deemed and acceptable in our community we would be
equipped to resist external negative influences that may otherwise sway us.
Also having a cultural identity of our own would help us to understand better
how other people value their own language and traditions. We would not be so
quick to fear what is unfamiliar to us but instead try to understand it.
In
this changing world, which is drawing closer together through technology in
communication, English is generally the language adopted for ease of
communication in sectors such as trade and education. However, this does not
mean that we should neglect our own mother tongue. It is always suggested to
learn different languages so that it will help or communicate with people of
different locations/places.