“本国语言”常见的英文表达是 native language 或 mother tongue。
native language:侧重于强调是个人出生或成长所在国家、地区所使用的语言,更注重语言与出生地、成长环境的关联性。例如:Many immigrants still maintain fluency in their native language even after living abroad for years.(许多移民即使在国外生活多年后,仍然能流利地说自己的本国语言。)
mother tongue:突出这是从母亲那里或家庭早期环境中习得的语言,带有情感和文化传承的意味。例如:His mother tongue is Spanish, but he speaks English fluently as well.(他的本国语言是西班牙语,但他英语也说得很流利。 )