International Mother Language Day

International Mother Language Day is an international holiday that was established to support linguistic and cultural diversity. There are thousands of different languages in our world. But there are also dialects! The holiday is celebrated annually on February 21.

History

International Mother Language Day was established in 1999, and a year later the first official celebration took place. A corresponding initiative was taken by the organization UNESCO.

Initially, the holiday had one narrow purpose. It was necessary to support and preserve Bengali as the mother tongue of the people of Bangladesh. The region was historically part of East Pakistan and was home to an indigenous population with its own culture and language. The country tried to secede for a long time, as there were constant infringements of the locals and non-acceptance of the language. There were various rallies and strikes, not without casualties. But the result was achieved when Bangladesh became an independent republic. This event took place on March 26, 1971, and official recognition took place on December 16. Residents defended their right to honor their own traditions and speak their native language.

Ethnic researchers predict that in 30-40 years some ethnic cultures will disappear. Such a process is associated with the absorption of one culture by another. It is also possible that new languages will emerge or that old languages will merge as a result of strong intercultural ties. This is why it is so important to preserve today’s world cultures and their language. This idea is being actively promoted today, largely through the creation of International Mother Language Day.

Interesting facts

• The rarest and most endangered languages in the world can be found in Asia and Africa.
• The most common language is Chinese. It is used practically 1.4 billion. people.
• English is the most widely spoken language in Europe and the United States. It is native to 420 million. The number of people, and about 700 million more. teach it as an extra.

How to celebrate

Immerse yourself in the history of the language you speak! Learn more interesting facts. Check out the old words that have been replaced by analogues or are no longer in use.

Spread the word on social media. Ask other users what their native language is. Do they know him well?

When is International Mother Language Day celebrated in 2024?

International Mother Language Day is observed on February 21 each year.

Observations