OUTLINE

1. A little bit about me

2. Mother tongue
3. Move to another city
4. Learning new language
5. I’ve lost my mother tongue
6. A rule of speaking English at school
7. Conflict on my brain
8. Calling out memory of mother tongue
 FORGOTTEN MOTHER TOUNGE

I was born in west java as same as where my big family either from my mother or from my
father lived. Surrounding by west java cultural, made me be able to speak in Sundanese as my mother
tongue. But then, one day comes when me and my family have to move to another island because of
some considerations. I was just in the third grade of elementary school when my Indonesian language
skill is still underrated, but I have to learn another language as I moved to new area. I moved to South
Sumatera where everything is just felt completely different. Language, weather and food are my biggest
problem to deal with.

I was really messed up at the time of adaptation. I have to learn Indonesian language and
English at school also local language where I lived. Every time I need help from my friends, I always
hesitate to ask because all I know is just Sundanese, yet I still got a thick Sundanese accent. By the time
passed, I started not to use Sundanese on a daily conversation neither at home nor at school. I used
Sundanese once a year as I back to west java for celebrating Eid al-Fitri with my big family. I started to
lose my Sundanese accent after graduated from elementary school.

My senior high school requires all the students to stay at dorm. As a boarding school student, I
have to follow all the rules included speaking English at school area. There were some spies to remind all
student to always speak in English. This regulation made me better in English, but I got worse in
Sundanese and Indonesian language. There were times when I want to say something in Indonesian, but
I forgot the word because I usually say that word in English.

As I realized that my skill in Indonesian language were getting worse, I started to recall the
memory of words and phrase that I usually express in English. I needed 2,5 months to be able to speak
in Indonesian like I was. I also learned French at school that made my brain works so hard until I didn’t
realize that I’ve through eating disorder as I got lots of pressure. Beside from language I also got big
pressure from academic side. I always feel hungry after eating that made me increased 10 kg of body
mass within less than 6 months.

After graduated from high school and accepted in a college, I stayed at home since corona virus
started to spread in Indonesia. I was sad cause I realized that I’ve lost my mother tongue. I often forgot a
lot of words and phrases in Sundanese. Since I stayed at home, I started to recall the words and phrases.
But it wasn’t as easy as flipping hand. I am still working on it up until now.