The first language a baby learns from birth is called the birth language or mother tongue. Mother tongue plays a crucial role in our lives for various reasons.
Why learning the mother tongue is important?
Learning in the mother tongue is important for improving other critical thinking skills, second language learning, and literacy skills.
- It allows you to communicate with your family and community members who may not speak other languages.
- It is the foundation for learning other languages.
- It helps to develop a better understanding of your own culture and identity.
- It helps to connect with people and develop a rapport who speak a similar language.
- It can give you a competitive edge in the job market.
International Mother Language Day:
International Mother Language Day is observed every year on the 21st of February, to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.
Globally 40 percent of the population does not have access to an education in a language they speak or understand.
Multilingualism contributes to the development of inclusive societies that allow multiple cultures, worldviews, and knowledge systems to coexist and cross-fertilize.
International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in November 1999. The idea to celebrate International Mother Language Day was the initiative of Bangladesh. The UN General Assembly welcomed the proclamation of the day in its resolution of 2002
On 16 May 2007, the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution A/RES/61/266 called upon Member States “to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by peoples of the world”. By the same resolution, the General Assembly proclaimed 2008 as the International Year of Languages, to promote unity in diversity and international understanding, through multilingualism and multiculturalism and named the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation to serve as the lead agency for the Year.
(Source credit: Different articles published by UNESCO)