Fostering multilingualism for inclusion in education and society
Language gives form to the thought. The first words a child listens are those loving, caring and affectionate ones from the mother and appropriately it is referred to as mother tongue. This year the world is celebrating 22nd year of observation of “World Mother Language Day”. The theme for this year, “Fostering multilingualism for inclusion in education and society,” recognises that multilingualism would lead to inclusion. Alarming to note that 40% of the population does not have access to an education in a language they speak. It is being reported that every two weeks, a language disappears, taking with it an entire cultural and intellectual heritage. More than 40% of the estimated 6000 languages spoken in the world are endangered. There is increasing awareness that languages play a vital role in developing and ensuring cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue.
The theme of the Day this year, “Fostering multilingualism for inclusion in education and society”, thus encourages us to support multilingualism and the use of mother tongues, both at school and in everyday life. This is essential, because when 40% of the world’s inhabitants do not have access to education in the language they speak or understand best, it hinders their learning, as well as their access to heritage and cultural expressions. This year, special attention is being paid to multilingual education from early childhood, so that for children, their mother tongue is always an asset.
Audrey Azoulay
Director-General of UNESCO
Language gives form to the thought. The first words a child listens to are those loving, caring and affectionate ones from the mother. As the baby grows, listen to many and absorbs and learns. It is appropriate that it is referred to as mother tongue. Synonymously mother language. The child’s ability to understand the languages is impressive. With globalisation and people moving to far off places and settling down in search of greener pastures, children are exposed to multiple languages. With the passing of the years, the urge to get connected to their native languages gets enhanced. The child born in a foreign country gets used to the local language. The conflict of which is their mother language arises. Education experts keep reminding about the importance of getting educated in the mother language. In such context celebrating International, Mother Language Day is of significance. The proposal to celebrate International Mother Language Day was the initiative of Bangladesh. It was approved at the 1999 UNESCO and is being observed throughout the world since 2000. The UN formally recognised it in 2002. The 22nd edition of this Day is being celebrated when the world is going through an unprecedented health situation arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic. This crisis has exposed and is expected to add new layers or to deepen inequalities, marginalisation and exclusion. This year’s theme, “Fostering multilingualism for inclusion in education and society,” recognises that multilingualism would lead to inclusion. UNESCO believes education must begin from the early years lying sound foundation of learning based on the mother language. 21st February is also the anniversary of the Day when the people of Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) fought to recognise the Bangla language.
The term mother language (or father language) is used for the language that a person learned as a child, children growing up in bilingual homes can have more than one mother tongue. In some countries, the term mother tongue refers to one’s ethnic group’s language rather than the mother language. The mother language of a child is part of that child’s personal, social and cultural identity. In some countries, “mother language” or “native language” indicates one’s ethnic group’s language.
Linguistic diversity is increasingly being threatened. More and more languages are disappearing. Alarming to note that more than 40% of the population does not have access to an education in a language they speak. It is heartening to document the progress being made in mother tongue-based multilingual education with the growing understanding of its importance. UNESCO’s celebration of International Mother Language Day calls on policymakers, educators to enhance the efforts in imparting multilingual education in line with the UN International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032).
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.
Languages are the most powerful instruments for 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. (Message from the UN)
It is being reported that every two weeks, a language disappears, taking with it an entire cultural and intellectual heritage. More than 40% of the estimated 6000 languages spoken in the world are endangered. More statistical data will become available once UNESCO’s Atlas of Languages, a database about practically all human languages, becomes available later this year. India is doing well in terms of making digital content available in the regional languages. Digitised content is being made available in the 22 scheduled languages and extended to other 234 recognised languages in India as part of PM Shri Narendra Modi’s Digital India initiative. Digitisation began in June 2016 through the Bharatavani Project at the Central Institute of Indian Languages in Mysore. Already content in 60 Indian languages had been made available free of charge.
There is increasing awareness that languages play a vital role in developing and ensuring cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue. International Mother Language Day recognises that languages and multilingualism can advance inclusion.
Toons: Reema and Anusha
Logs: M Sai Baba
