چكيده لاتين
The mother tongue is one of the fundamental pillars of cultural and human identity. In the context of globalization and lifestyle transformations, it faces serious challenges and is increasingly at risk of erosion. This study, adopting a sociological perspective and employing Sterling’s thematic analysis as a qualitative method, investigates the role of working mothers in preserving and transmitting their mother tongue. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 17 Georgian-speaking working mothers in Fereydunshahr County, using purposive sampling. The analytical process consisted of three stages: initial coding, secondary coding, and the extraction of final themes.
Findings indicate that, despite the pressures of modern life, working mothers employ strategies such as home-based language planning, the use of Georgian-language media, maintaining family conversations, and utilizing cultural tools to support language transmission. The analysis yielded four main codes:
1. Mother tongue and the working mother, which explores the intersection between women’s occupational and identity roles;
2. Functions of the mother tongue, in areas such as cognitive development, cohesion, empathy, and reinforcement of ethnic identity;
3. Outlook on the mother tongue, encompassing mothers’ concerns and hopes for the future of the Georgian language;
4. Linguistic status of Georgian-speaking working mothers, reflecting their emotional attachment and language attitudes.
The results emphasize the importance of raising awareness, providing institutional support, and enhancing social participation to sustain the mother tongue. The study concludes that working mothers, as cultural agents, play a vital role in the intergenerational transmission of their native language.
