How to Celebrate International Mother Language Day

Every year, on the 21st of February, the world celebrates International Mother Language Day, a day for linguistic diversity and multilingualism. It is an opportunity to celebrate the rich diversity of languages that make up our societies.

As more people learn more and speak different languages, we all benefit. Here are some ways we can celebrate International Mother Language Day. This is a global day, so let’s start by learning more about what makes our languages unique.

UNESCO

Every year, on 21 February, UNESCO International Mother Language Day is celebrated around the world to celebrate linguistic, cultural, and multilingualism diversity.

By promoting linguistic, cultural, and multilingualism awareness, the day serves to foster a better understanding of the importance of multilingualism. UNESCO has made this day an official observance. To celebrate this international day, here are some tips:

UNESCO International Mother Language Day was first celebrated in 2000, following an initiative from Bangladesh. This day aims to highlight the importance of preserving cultural and linguistic diversity.

UNESCO has a long-term mission to help preserve and promote diversity and multilingualism. In fact, UNESCO has adopted language-related initiatives as a way to achieve this goal. UNESCO also encourages languages as important forms of expression.

UNESCO International Mother Language Day promotes cultural and linguistic diversity through early education. In addition, the day highlights the impact of languages on social cohesion. In addition to promoting multiculturalism and linguistic diversity, the day promotes peaceful dialogue.

Recognition of the value of linguistic and cultural diversity contributes to a lasting peace and harmony among people. But why is it important to celebrate languages? And what can we do to celebrate the day?

Rafiqul Islam

On 21 February, the United Nations declared the day “International Mother Language Day” to celebrate the sacrifice of the Language Martyrs on that date in 1952. On this day, Rafiqul Islam and other Language Martyrs were invited to the first International Mother Language Day celebration in Paris.

Making history requires sacrifice, but Rafiqul Islam sacrificed his time, energy, and family life to make this happen.

The initiative came about after an immigrant from Bangladesh called Rafiqul Islam wrote his first letter to UN Secretary General Kofi Anan in 1998.

The letter stated that it was important to promote the preservation and use of all languages in the world, and he urged the Secretary General to declare Feb. 21 as International Mother Language Day. UNESCO has since adopted the letter. Today, it is widely recognized as the official language day of many nations.

Rafiqul Islam is credited with gaining the recognition of February 21 as International Mother Language Day. His death on the day after the UN proclaimed the day International Mother Language Day in 1999 was a tragic tragedy.

Rafiqul Islam was a prominent freedom fighter and an advocate of languages, including the Bengali language. He died at the age of 63, after suffering from leukemia for more than two years.

In his letter to Kofi Annan, Rafiqul Islam emphasised the importance of preserving mother tongues as many mother languages had been wiped out by lack of protection or linguistic or cultural aggression.

Abdus Salam

On February 21, International Mother Language Day is celebrated around the world. This day celebrates the languages of people all over the world, and is intended to preserve the nearly extinct and dying languages.

The day is also a commemoration of the Bangali language, which was nearly extinct in 1952 when Pakistani forces opened fire on the Bangali people. Hundreds of people died, and the country of Bangladesh was created as a result.

Rafiqul Islam, a Bengali living in Canada, proposed that February 21 be marked as International Mother Language Day. He chose this date because of the killings that occurred during the Language Movement in 1952.

In 1999, UNESCO declared February 21 as International Mother Language Day, and in 2022, the US general assembly welcomed the resolution.

In addition to promoting mother language rights, the UNGA also called for the preservation of all languages around the world.

Rafiqul Islam, a non-resident of Bangladesh from Canada, proposed the creation of an International Mother Language Day to encourage the UN to protect endangered languages.

In 1999, UNESCO accepted the proposal, and International Mother Language Day became an official national holiday in Bangladesh.

This event is observed every February to highlight the importance of mother tongues and to encourage global understanding and dialogue. As a result, the day promotes linguistic diversity, a foundational principle of a multilingual society.

UNC-Chapel Hill

If you are considering attending UNC-Chapel Hill, you should know that the yield rate for the school is 42.5%, or 42 students out of 100. The yield rate is a measure of acceptance, and it is comparable to other state universities.

The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill also does not use interviews to determine acceptance rates, but applicants who have parents who attended the university will receive special consideration.

In general, UNC-Chapel Hill does not consider demonstrated interest, such as extracurricular activities, or racial or ethnic background.

In an effort to celebrate International Mother Language Day at UNC-Changell Hill, the Graduate and Professional Student Federation celebrated UNC-Chapel-Hill’s diverse cultural heritage.

The organization also offered cultural resources to enrich the educational experience of UNC students and K-12 students. Although UNC is a major research university, it does not have a large student body. Nonetheless, UNC students and faculty can feel welcome here.

As part of the celebrations on International Mother Language Day, UNC’s Graduate and Professional Student Federation produced a short film aimed at celebrating the diversity of languages on campus.

The film was directed by Upoma Guha, an international student advocate and graduate student in the UNC School of Dentistry. Guha’s sister Mithila is a film-maker in Bangladesh. She has produced many short films for children in Bangladesh.

UNC-Chapel Hill’s celebration

As part of UNC-Chapel Hill’s International Mother Language Day celebration, the Graduate and Professional Student Federation produced a short film featuring various languages spoken on campus.

The film, entitled “Another Language,” was directed by Upoma Guha, a graduate student in UNC’s School of Dentistry. Her sister, Mithila Guha, is a filmmker in Bangladesh. She will give a virtual lecture in the Kreol of Mauritius at 5:15pm.

“Individuals from different cultural backgrounds and countries can communicate and learn from each other,” says Natalie. “The International Mother Language Day celebration is a unique opportunity to connect with your community and learn more about different languages. In fact, learning your mother language can improve your learning ability and boost your career.”

The UNC Undergrad Linguistics Club and the Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages are collaborating on two events to celebrate the day. A documentary screening on language conservation and diversity is a highlight of the day.

The film explores the lives of endangered languages and cultures and shows the forces that silence them. As a result, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 2008 as the International Year of Languages.

UNC-Chapel Hill’s film

To honor the day, the UNC Graduate and Professional Student Federation produced a short film celebrating UNC’s diversity of languages. The film features a student advocate, Upoma Guha, and her sister, Mithila Guha, who is a member of the Children’s Film Society Bangladesh.

The film is free and open to the public, but you’ll want to check out the event calendar to see if parking is reserved.

International Mother Language Day was established in 2000 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization to promote linguistic diversity and multilingualism.

February 21 is chosen as the day to honor all mother languages because it is an important anniversary in the history of the fight to protect mother tongues. In 1952, four students in Bangladesh were killed in a protest against the nationalization of the Bangla language. Today, this language is known as Bengali, and its people live in Bangladesh.

The idea of International Mother Language Day originated from the 1940s Bangladesh Language Movement. Bengal Province, which is now Bangladesh, was divided into different religions.

In 1947, this country became Pakistan, with West Pakistan separating from East, which became Bangladesh. In 1948, Pakistan’s government declared the language Urdu as its national language, but the majority of people lived in East Pakistan and spoke Bangla. In response, the people of East Pakistan organized protests, demonstrating that they wanted their language to be the national language.

UNC-Chapel Hill’s displays

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has been celebrating International Mother Language Day by hosting a number of events that celebrate different languages.

In conjunction with the day’s celebrations, UNC hosts two films highlighting endangered languages and their culture. The film, “Living Tongues,” confronts forces that are silencing languages around the world.

Shot in places such as Bolivia, Siberia, and India, the documentary highlights a range of threatened cultures.

The event is aimed at raising awareness about the importance of language diversity and multilingualism. It is celebrated every year on February 21, following a UNESCO initiative in 1999.

UNC-Chapel Hill displays for International Mother Language Day include an exhibit on the history of the English language and other languages. UNC-Chapel Hill is proud to host the event and support the cause.

This year’s International Mother Language Day display pack includes an illustrated banner, flags, and more. The resource package is also editable, allowing participants to add their own languages and flags.

The banner and graphics feature a greeting in 18 languages. Organizers can use this resource to promote language diversity in their community.

It will be a huge hit on International Mother Language Day! You can even get a free printout of the International Mother Language Day greeting for your event.