International Mother Language Day

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2024 DateFebruary 21, 2024
2025 DateFebruary 21, 2025

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International Mother Language Day

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International Mother Language Day highlights the importance of linguistic and cultural diversity. This day also promotes the preservation and protection of all languages spoken worldwide, making people more conscious of the value of linguistic diversity and multilingualism. This Observance is not only vital in maintaining the distinct character and integrity of our languages, but it also promotes understanding, tolerance, and dialogue amongst different linguistic communities.

This day has special significance for Canadians, given their multicultural and multilingual society. The celebration, originating from a call made by Bangladesh and later sanctioned by the UN General Assembly, has been observed worldwide since 1999. In Canada, it resonates deeply as the nation embodies the ethos being celebrated: diversity, respect, and understanding. Canada's official languages are English and French, but the country has over 200 reported mother tongues based on the last census, ranging from Punjabi, Tagalog to the Indigenous languages of Cree and Ojibwe. Hence, International Mother Language Day underlines the need for language preservation, especially for the myriad of Indigenous languages that characterize Canada's rich cultural tapestry.

On this day, Canadian learning institutions, community centers, public spaces, and even social media platforms come alive with diverse celebrations. Events often include language learning workshops, cultural performances, reading sessions, exhibitions showcasing diverse linguistic heritage and even contests to foster awareness and appreciation. The involvement of multi-generational participants, ranging from school children to elders, also helps revitalizes local languages, ensuring their longevity for future generations. International Mother Language Day occurs each year on February 21.

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Facts about International Mother Language Day

  • The theme for International Mother Language Day in 2023 was Multilingual education – a necessity to transform education.
  • According to Lingua.edu, as of 2023, the most spoken languages around the world are:
    1) English – 1.45 billion people
    2) Mandarin Chinese – 1.11 billion people
    3) Hindi – 602 million people
    4) Spanish – 534 million people
  • Mother languages in a multilingual approach are essential components of quality education, which is itself the foundation for empowering women and men in their societies. — Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director General.
  • In addition to French and English, there are over 60 Indigenous languages spoken in Canada by the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people. These languages are an important part of Canada's cultural heritage and efforts are being made to preserve and promote them.
  • The importance of IMLD in Canada is due to the country's rich linguistic heritage and diverse population. Canada has two official languages, English and French, which are spoken as a mother tongue by around 56% and 20% of the population, respectively.

Top things to do in Canada for this observance

  • Gather with friends and family to assess your local education system. Does it provide adequate language instruction and second language instruction? Second language acquisition has been linked with critical thinking, creativity and flexibility of the mind.
  • Generate awareness for International Mother Language Day by using the hashtags #InternationalMotherTongueDay, #IMLD, #motherlanguage or a hashtag followed by the language of your post (#english, #bengali, #xhosa).
  • Attend Multicultural Festivals: Cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal often host events, including music performances, art exhibitions, and food festivals, that celebrate the diverse languages spoken in Canada.
  • Mother Tongue Book Fair: On International Mother Language Day, some locations host book fairs featuring works written in different languages.

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