International Mother Language Day And Reasons to Celebrate

What is International Mother Language Day and Why We Celebrate This Day?

As part of its mission to promote mother tongue-based multilingual education, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) celebrates International Mother Language Day every year on 21st February. Additionally, the day promotes cultural and linguistic diversity. As of the adoption of UN resolution 56/262 in 2002, it was formally acknowledged by the United Nations General Assembly commensurate with its announcement by UNESCO on 17 November 1999. In its resolution 61/266 adopted on 16 May 2007, the UN General Assembly also declared 2008 as the International Year of Languages and included the celebration of Mother Language Day as part of a broader initiative for preserving and protecting all languages used throughout the world.

Bangladesh was the driving force behind the celebration of International Mother Language Day. Bangladeshis celebrate the 21 February anniversary of the day when they fought for the recognition of Bangla as their national language. A Bangladeshi living in Canada, Rafiqul Islam, suggested that 21st February be observed as International Mother Language Day. According to him, the said date commemorates the massacre in Dhaka during the Bangla Language Movement in 1952.

Over 7,000 languages exist around the world, but India alone has 22 official languages, 1635 mother tongues, and 234 identifiable languages.

Importance of International Mother Language Day or Mother Language:

The term Mother Language refers to a method of communication that people of a particular country or region use for speaking or writing. In general, mother tongue refers to the first language a baby is exposed to from birth onward. A child is likely to be spoken in this language before he or she begins to understand words. A person's native or first language can also be referred to as their mother tongue.

These points shed light on its significance:

Children develop their social, personal, and cultural identity through it.

By learning this language in school, you will have an easier time understanding, learning, and comprehending. Children learn faster and better in the language they speak at home, according to various studies.

The mother tongue provides children with a solid foundation that helps them to learn a variety of languages later in life.

It relieves them of the unnecessary stress of learning a foreign language and dealing with the pressure of its lessons. As a result, children perform better academically.

Teaching in a child's native tongue prevents learning delays and hiccups for them.

Having their teachers and classmates speak their native language increases their enjoyment of school.

They become more self-confident and assured that they will be able to learn new concepts. As a result, students gain more self-esteem.

Since their native language is their first language, parents are more likely to be involved in the education of their children. Parents have no problem communicating with teachers.

This enables students to retain a sense of their cultural heritage.

It is like having equal opportunities for all regardless of their status, location, or ethnic background when they are taught in their mother tongue.

It is beneficial for a child to develop literacy and critical thinking skills using their mother tongue.

In the recommendation of the National Education Policy, it is stated that "wherever possible, the medium of instruction will be the home language/mother tongue/local language/regional language until at least Grade 5 and preferably until Grade 8 and beyond.".

Over the years themes of International Mother Language Day:

Theme of International Mother Language Day in 2006: "Languages and cyberspace"

Theme of International Mother Language Day in 2007: Multilingual education

Theme of International Mother Language Day in 2008: International Year of Languages

Theme of International Mother Language Day in 2010: International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures

Theme of International Mother Language Day in 2012: Mother-tongue instruction and inclusive education

Theme of International Mother Language Day in 2013: Annual theme: "Books for mother tongue education"

Theme of International Mother Language Day in 2014: "Local languages for global citizenship: spotlight on science"

Theme of International Mother Language Day in 2015: "Inclusion in and through education: language counts"

Theme of International Mother Language Day in 2016: "Quality education, the language of instruction and learning outcomes"

Theme of International Mother Language Day in 2017: "Toward sustainable futures through multilingual education"

Theme of International Mother Language Day in 2018: Our languages, our assets.

Theme of International Mother Language Day in 2019: International Year of Indigenous Languages

Theme of International Mother Language Day in 2020: "Safeguarding linguistic diversity"

Theme of International Mother Language Day in 2021: "Fostering multilingualism for inclusion in education and society"

Theme of International Mother Language Day in 2022: "Using technology for multilingual learning: Challenges and opportunities

Aiming to raise awareness about the potential role technology can play in facilitating multilingual education and supporting the development of quality teaching and learning for all, the theme of the 2022 International Mother Language Day is "Using technology for multilingual learning: Challenges and opportunities."

Education is facing some of the greatest challenges in history, and technology can help to solve some of those challenges. A lifelong learning system based on the principles of inclusion and equity could accelerate efforts to ensure equitable and inclusive opportunities for all. An important component of inclusion in education is multilingual education based on native languages.

Various Initiatives Taken by India For Mother Language:

Mother tongue development has received maximum attention in the recently announced National Education Policy 2020.

Policy recommends, to the extent possible, that instruction be given in mother tongue / vernacular / regional language as far as possible, at least until class 5 (preferably to grade 8 and beyond).

By learning in their mother tongue, students are empowered to choose the subject and language that interest them. A truly bilingual society will be created in India, attendance and learning outcomes will improve, and people will be able to learn a variety of languages.

University Level Books in regional languages are being funded by the Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT).

A technical terminology based on Indian languages was introduced in 1961.

A scheme for the conservation of endangered languages called "Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages."

Under the scheme "Establishment of Centre for Endangered Languages in Central Universities", the University Grants Commission (UGC) also promotes regional languages in higher education in the country.

A Bharatiya Bhasha Vishwavidyalaya (BBV) is being proposed by the Government of India.

Furthermore, the Vice President has mentioned other situations in which local languages may be used, such as in administration, court cases, higher and technical education, etc.

By adopting vernacular languages as a medium of instruction, the Namath Basai initiative of Kerala State Government has proven to be of great benefit to young students from tribal areas.

With Project Navlekha, Google protects mother languages with technology. Online content in local Indian languages will be increased by using the project.

Language Protection Worldwide:

2022 to 2032 has been designated as the "International Decade of Indigenous Languages" by the United Nations.

UN General Assembly had previously declared 2019 as International Year of Indigenous Languages.

With the Yuelu Proclamation, issued by UNESCO in Changsha (China) in 2018, countries and regions across the globe are guided in their efforts to protect linguistic diversity.

Some Facts About Mother Language:

There are about 6000 languages spoken in the world, and at least 43 percent of them are endangered.

Education systems and the public domain give proper place to only a handful of languages. Additionally, 40% of the world population cannot access education in their own language.

Approximately every two weeks, a language disappears and a cultural and intellectual heritage is lost to the world, according to the United Nations (UN).

One of the reasons for the disappearance of mother languages is the rush to learn foreign languages for better job opportunities.

The digital world uses less than 100 languages.

Sources Used:

UN - International Mother Language Day 21 February

UNESCO - International Mother Language Day

Drishti IAS

International Event Day

Wikipedia

Various News Sources