International Mother Language Day

UNESCO

Languages are who we are. By protecting them, we protect ourselves", - said UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova. To recognize the importance of linguistic diversity, the UNESCO General Conference proclaimed International Mother Language Day in November 1999. Every year since then UNESCO has celebrated International Mother Language Day on February 21. Each year UNESCO chooses a theme to focus on. The theme for 2012 is ‘Mother tongue instruction and inclusive education,’ bringing more attention to the many people around the world who don’t have the opportunity to receive an education in their own language.

Intended to help promote awareness and use of various mother tongues, celebrations include presentations on various languages, and on linguistic and cultural topics. In places all around the world local communities celebrate International Mother Language Day, and give people an opportunity to learn more about other languages and cultures.

Each year the Linguapax Prize is also awarded. The Linguapax Prize is an award for promoting linguistic diversity, perhaps the only award of its type in existence. The 2012 Linguapax Prize was awarded to Jon Landaburu for his role in helping revitalize the linguistic heritage of Colombia.

International Mother Language Day originated in Bangladesh. Bangladesh celebrated Language Movement Day in commemoration of university students who died in Dhaka on February 21, 1952 during the Bengali Language Movements. UNESCO initiated International Language Day as an international recognition of Language Movement Day, and to promote linguistic and cultural diversity.

-A world without words?

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/a_world_without_words_celebrating_international_mother_language_day/

http://www.unesco.org

http://www.linguapax.org/en/linguapax-award

http://www.un.org/en/events/motherlanguageday/