Final answer:
Speaking your native language involves implicit memory, which is the unconscious memory used to perform tasks and routines automatically. Unlike explicit memory that requires conscious recall, language skills are procedural knowledge and do not require active thought about grammar or vocabulary as you use them.
Step-by-step explanation:
When speaking your native language, you would primarily be using implicit memory. This type of memory involves skills and routines that are performed automatically without conscious thought. Implicit memory is like a program running in the background of your cognition, influencing behaviors and cognitive tasks without your direct awareness. In contrast, explicit memory refers to memories that are consciously recalled, such as facts learned for a test or specific events from the past. Language skills, which are used fluidly and without the need to consciously think about grammatical rules or vocabulary, are a prime example of procedural knowledge – a subtype of implicit memory.
Consider how you don't actively think about grammar rules or the meanings of each word as you speak; it comes naturally due to the procedural aspect of implicit memory. This automation in language can be contrasted with explicit memory, where recalling specific information requires conscious effort, like remembering facts for an exam or the details of an important life event.