International Mother Language Day

International Mother Language Day is a global holiday dedicated to supporting linguistic and cultural diversity. There are thousands of different languages in the world, along with numerous dialects. This important day is observed annually on February 21.

History

International Mother Language Day was established by UNESCO in 1999, with the first official celebration taking place a year later.

The holiday initially focused on supporting and preserving Bengali as the mother tongue of the people of Bangladesh. Historically, the region was part of East Pakistan, inhabited by an indigenous population with its own culture and language. The people of Bangladesh faced years of discrimination and the suppression of their native language, leading to rallies and strikes that often resulted in casualties. Eventually, Bangladesh became an independent republic on March 26, 1971, with official recognition on December 16. Residents successfully defended their right to honor their traditions and speak their mother language.

Experts predict that, in the coming decades, some ethnic cultures and languages may disappear, while new languages may emerge or old languages merge due to strong intercultural connections. Preserving today’s world cultures and languages has become even more vital, and International Mother Language Day actively promotes this cause.

Interesting Facts

• The rarest and most endangered languages are primarily found in Asia and Africa.
• The most spoken language in the world is Chinese, with approximately 1.4 billion speakers.
• English is the most widely used language in Europe and the United States. It is the native language for about 420 million people, and over 700 million people learn it as a second language.

How to Take Part

Immerse yourself in the history of your own language. Learn interesting facts, explore words that have fallen out of use, and share your discoveries with others.

Join the conversation on social media by asking others about their native languages and discussing the importance of linguistic diversity.

When is International Mother Language Day in 2026?

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

Observations