Languages are the root cause of cultural, traditional, and social traditions. Every language represents a culture, a way of thinking, and a way of transmitting knowledge to one another. Most of us have never heard of International Mother Language Day. This article will cover Mother Language Day, its history, and how we can celebrate it.
What is the mother tongue?
The mother tongue, also known as the first language, is defined as follows:
- A language that is associated with us from birth.
- The language in which we are most competent and speak most easily.
- A Language that gives us an identity in a society or a country.
So, the mother language is the language children learn first from their mothers. It is the language they speak that a kid learns quickly. That’s why a person’s native language is called their mother language.
Why is the mother tongue important?
Mother language is the connection between culture and ethnicity. In this modern, globalized world, understanding and using the mother tongue in a country reminds us of our origins.
Learning different languages and speaking them with other people is an intelligent choice. But, it shouldn’t reduce the respect for using mother tongues in daily life as languages are the basis of every culture.
International Mother Language Day:
Since 2000, UNESCO International Mother Language Day has been celebrated worldwide on February 21, and the purpose of this day is to raise awareness of mother language, linguistic diversity, and multilingualism. The UNESCO General Conference first approved it in 1999. It is celebrated on February 21 every year.
Languages play a vital role in our lives; thus, this celebration is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of languages. It also demonstrates the importance of preserving linguistic diversity all around the world. Also used to raise awareness about cultural diversity and promote multilingualism because it is something we can all share, and it differentiates us from one another.
The History of Mother Language Day:
“International Mother Language Day” was first proclaimed as “Language Movement Day” on February 21, 1952, in Bangladesh by “Dhaka University Students.” Four young students were killed in Bangladesh during a protest because of the Bengali and Urdu language controversy on this day.
After this tragic incident, UNESCO decided to make International Mother Language Day an annual event worldwide. And there’s a public holiday in Bangles on February 21.
Why is Mother Language Day so significant?
Did you know? At least 43% of the world’s spoken languages are endangered by an estimated 6,000 languages. According to this, one language completely disappears every two weeks, and the cultural heritage disappears with it. Around the world, 40% of people don’t have access to education in a specific language they can understand and speak.
Therefore, this day reminds us and ensures that these languages cannot be forgotten. As well as keeping the cultural heritage and history of different countries, they also belong to other languages. We should be proud of our mother languages and have the potential to learn more about them.
The Top Ten Ways to Celebrate International Mother Language Day:
Here are some simple yet effective ways to celebrate this beautiful day in a fun and provocative way to raise awareness and learn more different languages to support each other. Encourage each other to share their mother language and explore the diversity of languages worldwide.
1. Raise your voice:
Raising your voice is like writing a letter to the public through the newspaper. Make an infographic or a video and promote the idea through social media about the importance of International Mother Language Day. Tell people about the benefits, how important it is for today’s children to learn and speak in their mother tongue, and how the education system can play a vital role in raising awareness about it.
2. Read books in different languages:
Based on age, read books in your native or mother language. Read novels, fiction-related, science books, religious, motivational stories, comedies, biographies, or anything you like. Just read a book in your native primary language on this day and celebrate it.
3. Game of borrowing words.
The borrowing word game is an exciting game in which you must match that English word with the language it was borrowed from. It is common in different languages to adopt words from other languages.
4. The World Language Map:
Take a World Language Map and click on the continents to explore the world’s languages. Currently, over 6,000 languages are usually spoken on the planet. Some languages are present in written form, and some in sign language, but most are spoken.
5. The Guessing Game:
With a group of people, they uniquely play a guessing game. Tell them to think of a word other than English or in the native language that others find difficult to guess and let them try to guess it.
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If they can’t guess, they can say the word in English and continue this circle with one another. This way, all these responses turn into a fascinating discussion, and you can learn about the similarities and differences between languages. In this way, you can learn different words in different languages.
6. Join a linguistic club:
To celebrate this day passionately, search for linguistic clubs nearby or online. Join them to learn different languages or offer them your services to teach them your native language to promote the richness of your mother tongue.
7. Purchase or give books to others:
What other day suits best for your children other than International Mother Language Day to learn their mother tongue? Buy books for your child in your native language to get them started on the journey of mastering their mother tongue. You can also distribute books to different people in society in the native language and celebrate with them.
8. Organize quizzes and competitions:
If you’re a teacher or a speaker, announce quizzes, competitions, and essay writing in the Mother Language to all students. Also, announce prizes to make it more exciting and fruitful.
9. Run or participate in online campaigns:
If you’re a content creator or a speaker, run a campaign to raise awareness. Otherwise, join groups and related campaigns that are related to the cause of promoting this day. Actively participate in it and contribute your ideas towards spreading your native language beyond geographical boundaries.
10. Watch movies in your language:
The most interesting way to celebrate this day is to watch a movie in your native language. It is the easiest way to learn more about language and to teach vocabulary.
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Conclusion:
Last but not least, to fully reap the benefits of language celebration, we all need to participate in it and engage the whole community. Respect everyone’s language and try to understand them. Educational institutes should plan on this day to raise awareness among the students and arrange different practice sessions.
FAQs:
What is International Mother Language Day?
International Mother Language Day, celebrated on February 21st every year, is a UNESCO-declared day aimed at promoting linguistic diversity and raising awareness about the importance of preserving mother languages worldwide.
Why is it important to celebrate International Mother Language Day?
International Mother Language Day highlights the vital role of mother languages in preserving cultural heritage, fostering identity, and promoting multilingualism. By celebrating this day, we honor linguistic diversity and emphasize the significance of respecting and preserving all languages.
What is the history behind International Mother Language Day?
Originally known as Language Movement Day, it commemorates the tragic events of February 21, 1952, in Bangladesh when students protested for the recognition of Bengali as one of the state languages of Pakistan. UNESCO later recognized the significance of this day and proclaimed it as International Mother Language Day in 2000.
How can individuals celebrate International Mother Language Day?
There are numerous ways to celebrate this day, such as reading books in one’s mother language, organizing linguistic quizzes or competitions, joining linguistic clubs, promoting awareness on social media, watching movies in native languages, and supporting initiatives that preserve linguistic diversity.
What is the significance of preserving mother languages?
Preserving mother languages is crucial for maintaining cultural identity, promoting inclusivity, and ensuring effective communication within communities. Additionally, it contributes to the preservation of cultural heritage and facilitates the transmission of knowledge from one generation to another. International Mother Language Day serves as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding and promoting linguistic diversity worldwide.
