International Mother Language Day is celebrated on February 21 each year. UNESCO organised the first observance as a celebration of linguistic and cultural diversity. This is a significant number, considering that some languages are better documented and more widely spoken than others. In a few decades, many ethnic languages, some of which are still spoken by small groups, will likely become extinct. International Mother Language Day is an integral part of a larger effort to revitalise the linguistic heritage of many communities.
The background of Language Day
In 1999, UNESCO established International Mother Language for the first time. In 2000, the first inaugural celebration was held. This annual event began as a tribute to the Bengali Language Movement, which sought recognition of Bengali as the official language of contemporary Bangladesh. Historically, this region was considered to be a part of East Pakistan, and it was home to numerous Bengali communities with their own language and culture. The plight of the Bengali language is emblematic of the plights of numerous other small linguistic communities around the world.
The Bengali movement’s plight can likely be traced back to 1947, when Pakistan was founded. In the early 1950s, the Bengali Language Movement began in East Pakistan’s Bengali communities and rose to prominence. The movement held public meetings and rallies to gain official recognition for their language. In 1952, police opened fire on the mass procession march of the Bengali Language Movement. There were multiple fatalities and hundreds of injuries. Bengalis were to observe the date of this event as a national holiday.
The United Nations was inspired by this story to designate February 21 as International Mother Language Day. The objective of the U.N. initiative is to preserve the world’s languages from extinction. Every international observance has had a theme since the year 2000. Each year’s celebration aims to add new educational components to the preservation and promotion of indigenous languages. As a result, the Bengali Language Movement celebration becomes a global phenomenon that honours languages from all over the world.
International Mother Language Day 2023: Date, Background, Facts
5 FACTS about Languages
Taushiro, also known as Pinche, is a nearly extinct Amazonian language with only one living speaker.
Sumerian is the earliest written language in human history, dating back to 3000 B.C.
Zimbabwe has the most officially recognised national languages in the world, with sixteen.
Papua New Guinea is the country with the most spoken languages, with 840 distinct languages.
With 74 characters, the Khmer alphabet is the largest of any language.
LANGUAGE DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | February 21 | Tuesday |
| 2024 | February 21 | Wednesday |
| 2025 | February 21 | Friday |
| 2026 | February 21 | Saturday |
| 2027 | February 21 | Sunday |
