International Mother Language Day

International Mother Language Day
Official name	International Mother Language Day
Significance	"To promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by peoples of the world"
Date	February 21
Next time	21 February 2025 (2025-02-21)
Frequency	Annual

Shaheed Minar (Martyr Monument), at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital in Bangladesh, commemorates those who were killed in the 21 February 1952 Bengali Language Movement demonstration.

International Mother Language Day (IMLD) (Bengali: আন্তর্জাতিক মাতৃভাষা দিবস Antôrjatik Matribhasha Dibôs) is a worldwide annual observance held on 21 February to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. First announced by UNESCO on 17 November 1999, it was formally recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution establishing 2008 as the International Year of Languages.

History

International Mother Language Day has been being observed since 2000 to promote peace and multilingualism. The date corresponds to the day in 1952 when students from the University of Dhaka, Jagannath University and Dhaka Medical College, demonstrating for the recognition of Bangla as one of the two national languages of East Pakistan, were shot dead by police near the Dhaka High Court in the capital of present-day Bangladesh.

"Mother language" is the calque of a term used in several Romance languages: lengua materna (Spanish), lingua madre (Italian) and langue maternelle (French). A more fluent English translation would be "mother tongue", although "native language" is the most comprehensible term in English. In linguistics, "mother language" refers to an ancestral (or proto-language) of a language family.

2015 Mother Tongue Day in Islamabad, with demonstrators demanding that Punjabi (the mother tongue of most Pakistanis) be made an official language of Pakistan

"Celebration of Ekushey February in Alberta, Canada"

International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in November 1999 (30C/62). On 16 May 2009 the United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution A/RES/61/266, called on its member states "to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by people of the world". In the resolution, the General Assembly proclaimed 2008 as the International Year of Languages to promote unity in diversity and international understanding through multilingualism and multiculturalism.

Languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage. All moves to promote the dissemination of mother tongues will serve not only to encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual education but also to develop fuller awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world and to inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.

— from the United Nations International Mother Language Day microsite

Timeline

• 1952: The basement of the day
• 1999: UNESCO proclaimed 21 February (Ekushey February) as the International Mother Language Day
• 2000: Inaugural celebration of the International Mother Language Day
• 2001: Second annual celebration
• 2002: Linguistic-diversity theme, with 3,000 endangered languages (slogan: In the galaxy of languages, every word is a star.)
• 2003: Fourth annual celebration
• 2004: Children-learning theme; the UNESCO observance included "a unique exhibition of children’s exercise books from around the world illustrating the process by which children learn and master the use of written literacy skills in the classroom".
• 2005: Braille and sign languages
• 2006: Languages and cyberspace
• 2007: Multilingual education
• 2008: International Year of Languages
• 2009: Tenth annual celebration
• 2010: International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures
• 2011: Information and communication technologies
• 2012: Mother tongue instruction and inclusive education
• 2013: Books for mother tongue education
• 2014: Local languages for Global Citizenship: Spotlight on Science
• 2015: Inclusion in and through education: language counts (with an event in Paris)

International observances

Dedication of the International Mother Language Day Monument in Ashfield Park, Sydney, 19 February 2006

UNESCO chooses a theme for each International Mother Language Day, and sponsors related events at its Paris headquarters on or around 21 February each year. In 2008, the International Year of Languages formally began on International Mother Language Day.

People have shaped the way of celebrating International Mother Language Day. The celebration of the day among with the topic of multilingual diversity has inspired a number of international, national and provincial award ceremonies.

Celebration of International Mother Language Day

In Bangladesh

Group of people laying down flowers at a replication of the Martyr's Monument

In respect of the language martyrs (see Language Movement Day) — the lion-hearted students Rafiq, Jabbar, Salam, Borkot and so on who died during a protest at the University of Dhaka on February 21, 1952 — the people in Bangladesh celebrate International Mother Language Day by laying down flowers to the Martyr's Monument (Shaheed Minar) and replications of that monument.

The people organize social gatherings, where they honor their language and culture, and hold literary competitions, draw Alpana on the roads, eat festive meals and listen to event themed songs, e.g. the "Amar Bhaiyer Rakte Rangano" (translated: "Coloured in the blood of my brother").

Outside Bangladesh

International Mother Language Day is celebrated all over the world in countries like e.g. Chile, Russia, Philippines, Egypt and in Canada.

During the month of February, especially on February 21st, many people with different origins e.g. from Bangladesh, Pakistan and India celebrate International Mother Language Day following the traditional example of the celebrations in Bangladesh. Replications of the Martyr's Monument are created and placed on a publicly available place, so that the people can honor the casualties from the protest in 1952. In events where people gather together to celebrate the topic of lingual diversity, people discuss and present their ideas and experiences, and use the occasion to cherish their cultural heritage.

Sponsorship and Awards

International Mother Language Day has inspired multiple organizations to recognize individual people for outstanding services to the community, and for the preservation of linguistic diversity and connected topics. In Alberta BHESA's Ekushey Heritage Awards and MJMF's Ekushey Youth Awards were announced and distributed by Delwar Jahid, the President of the Bangladesh PressClub Centre of Alberta in separate occasions.

International Linguapax Award

The International Linguapax Award is awarded annually on 21 February on International Mother Language Day by Linguapax International in Barcelona, Spain. It aims to recognize and award the actions carried out in different areas in favour of the preservation of linguistic diversity, revitalization and reactivation of linguistic communities and the promotion of multilingualism.

Ekushey Heritage Award

Recipients of the BHESA Ekushey Heritage Award 2015

The Ekushey Heritage Award is an appreciation for people who stand out exceptionally in helping their community. It was introduced in 2014 by the Bangladesh Heritage and Ethnic Society of Alberta (BHESA) located in Alberta, Canada and is awarded annually. Today the award is open for people residing in the Province of Alberta, and considered is the work of the recipients in fields like education, social work, and community services. The achievement may be awarded to multiple recipients and is officially announced on International Mother Language Day.

Ekushey Youth Award

The Ekushey Youth Award has been introduced in February 2015 by the Mahinur Jahid Memorial Foundation (MJMF) and will be awarded annually to recipients, who stand out inspiring a young audience with their work and contributions in the fields of education, sports, youth activities, literature and community services here. The honour may be awarded multiple times and is open to residents of the Province of Alberta in Canada. The Ekushey Youth Award is announced on International Mother Language Day.

Implementation of Mother Language Day

International Mother Language Day is a public holiday in Bangladesh since 1953, where it is also known as Shohid Dibôsh, or Shaheed Day. Though the day is observed globally but it is not a public holiday in other parts of the world. At 17 November 1999 the UNESCO General Conference officially recognized February 21 as International Mother Language Day.

Implementation in Canada

Proclamation for the Province of British Columbia

International Mother Language Day has been introduced to the Canadian Parliament for recognition by Mr. Matthew Kellway on February 5, 2014. The introduction has been made in form of a Private Member's Bill, Bill C-573 (view Bill), the International Mother Language Day Act.

In 2015 two Canadian provinces, the Province of British Columbia and the Province of Manitoba have passed proclamations to officially observe International Mother Language Day on February 21.

See also

• Language festival
• Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights
• Official languages of the United Nations

External links

• UNESCO homepage for International Mother Language Day
• UNESCO Education (includes links to information on past IMLD observances)
• The Makers of History: International Mother Language Day
• Worldwide event calendar on Mother Language Day celebrations
• Information about International Mother Language Day