Global Observance of International Mother Language Day

ARK News.. On February 21st each year, the world commemorates International Mother Language Day, a global event dedicated to promoting awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and the importance of multilingualism.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) first proclaimed this day on November 17, 1999, and it was subsequently adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. In 2008, the General Assembly declared the year as the International Year of Languages.

Since 2000, International Mother Language Day has been celebrated to foster peace and multilingualism worldwide and to protect all mother languages. The date of February 21st is significant, marking the recognition of the Bengali Language Movement in Bangladesh in 1952.

Mandarin Chinese is the most widely spoken language globally, with approximately 1.213 billion speakers. Despite the existence of over 6,500 languages worldwide, nearly 2,000 of these languages have fewer than 1,000 speakers. English ranks as the third most common language, reflecting the number of speakers worldwide.

According to the United Nations, the most widely spoken languages are Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, English, Arabic, Hindi, Bengali, Portuguese, Japanese, German, Russian, and French. The prevalence of Mandarin and Hindi speakers is largely due to the large populations of China and India. Additionally, non-native speakers in countries like the United States have an interest in learning these languages because they are economic powerhouses.

The rapid spread of certain languages can often be attributed to significant historical events such as invasions, wars, migrations, and the spread of religions. For instance, Arabic spread due to the Islamic religion, and Spanish expanded across most of the Americas due to conquests and expansion. The British Empire, in particular, was responsible for the widespread use of the English language.

Trade and agriculture have also influenced language spread in various regions, as people often choose the official language or multiple languages for conducting business. This choice impacts the extent to which a language spreads, along with cultural changes such as the rise of Hollywood and the spread of new technologies, especially concerning how people communicate locally and globally.

International Mother Language Day serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving linguistic diversity and promoting multilingual education to foster inclusive societies and sustainable development.

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