heritage language

Noun

heritage language (plural heritage languages)

1. The language of one's ancestors, especially a language one would like to learn.
   • "I thought it was important for the American children to learn their heritage language," Palumbo said.1973 November 28, “Italian-American Receives Homeland's Award”, in Public Opinion, Franklin Repository, volume 105, number 111, page 22
2. A minority language that one acquires as a first language but uses and/or is exposed to less later in life in favor of a more dominant majority language.
   • Spanish is considered a heritage language in the United States.