INTERNATIONAL MOTHER TONGUE DAY
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Language is an essential component of everyone’s existence. When a kid is born, the expectation is that he or she will speak their first golden words in their mother’s tongue. It connects the kid to their culture, promotes cognitive growth, and aids in the acquisition of new languages. Unfortunately, due to globalization, just over 40% of the world’s 6,000 or so languages are endangered, with only a few hundred languages having a place in educational systems. Even fewer are digitally represented. At least in the early years, mother-tongue education can help teachers teach and learners learn more efficiently.
On February 21 (Monday), the world celebrates International Mother Language Day to encourage linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. In 1999, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, endorsed the notion of celebrating International Mother Language Day.
THEME AND CELEBRATION OF INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY 2022
Bangladesh was the driving force behind the establishment of International Mother Language Day, which was approved by UNESCO in 1999. This lovely day symbolizes the value of cultural and linguistic variety in building sustainable civilizations. It is within UNESCO’s mandate for peace that it seeks to maintain the distinctions in cultures and languages that develop tolerance and respect for variety, according to the organization.
The subject of the 2022 International Mother Language Day, according to the United Nations, is “Using technology for multilingual learning: Challenges and Opportunities.” This year’s topic, according to the UN, emphasizes the potential role of technology in advancing multilingual education and supporting the development of high-quality teaching and learning for all.
COVID-19’s experiences, particularly in the sector of education, demonstrated how important technology is for distance learning. The United Nations recognizes that technology has the capacity to alleviate some of education’s most pressing issues. As a result, efforts are being made with this year’s theme to emphasize how multilingual education based on mother language is a fundamental component of inclusion in education.
Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, paid tribute to those who had given their lives for their mother tongue on Monday. She tweeted on the occasion of International Mother Language Day: “Greetings on International Mother Language Day! Salute to all martyrs who valiantly fought for the cause of the mother language. A plurality of languages needs celebration in India today. We love all languages, we love our mother language.”
Several minority languages are facing extinction in the current era of globalization, and the rise of digital and social media has spawned a trend in which English takes precedence over local languages, particularly in nations like India. There is often scorn for speaking in one’s native language, regardless of one’s educational qualifications or achievements. This is a regrettable trend that many people refer to as a “colonial hangover.”
So, let us take pleasure in ourselves and our Mother Tongue.