International Mother Language Day 2022

The International Mother Language Day 2022 is being observed on February 21. The day is observed every year for promoting awareness on linguistic and cultural diversity.

Key facts

• The day is raises awareness with the aim of promoting multilingualism, that is, the ability to speak multiple languages or using multiple languages.
• It is part of a broader initiative of promoting preservation and protection of all languages that are used by peoples across the world, as adopted by the UN General Assembly.

History of the day

The international mother language day was an initiative of Bangladesh. It was later approved at the 1999 UNESCO General Conference. Since then, it has been celebrated annually. First ever International Mother Language Day was observed in 2000. This day was first announced by UNESCO on November 17, 1999. In 2002, it was formally recognised by the United Nations General Assembly.

Significance of the day

The international mother language day signifies how an intergovernmental body like UNESCO believes in importance of linguistic and cultural diversity for sustainable societies. As per UNESCO, it is within its mandate for peace that it works for preserving the differences in languages and cultures fostering tolerance and respect for diversity. The day is significant for raising awareness on native languages because, Linguistic diversity is coming under threat as more languages are disappearing. As per UN reports, 40 percent of the population worldwide does not have access to education in a language they understand or speak.

Theme for the day

The theme of International Mother Language Day 2022 is “Using technology for multilingual learning: Challenges and opportunities”. The theme raises potential role of technology in advancing multilingual education and support development of quality learning and teaching for all.