Lgnorant about mother tongue

         On November 19, at a formal meeting of an Inner Wheel Club, an NCO, an old lady (said to be retired professor) rose on a point of order only to demonstrate her total ignorance of English language. She stated forcefully that she had never heard of world 'mother tongue' in her life.This was written in the body of an English language report of the organization.She said that it is a totally wrong word, and the correct word is 'mother language'. In contrast , the rather less knowledge 'Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary - Third Edition,2008 ' states as follows: mother tongue :(noun) which means 'the first language that you learn as a baby.' This shows that 'little knowledge is dangerous' as so vehemently demonstrated by the learned (?) retired professor. Further; to boot , she manages the 'free school' for needy children of a local voluntary body in Gulshan . It is such mindless ignorance; even by learned professors; that undermines our capability in English language; the greatest literary weakness for us in Bangladesh. I wanted to point out her mistake in the meeting; but as it was a lady 's gathering ; and I was a guest , I refrained.