When was UNESCO declared International Mother Language Day?

November 1999
International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in November 1999. The UN General Assembly welcomed the proclamation of the day in its resolution of 2002.

Why does UNESCO choose February 21st as the official date for International Mother Language Day?

Finally on 17 November 1999, the 30th General Assembly of UNESCO unanimously resolved that “21st February be proclaimed International Mother Language Day throughout the world to commemorate the martyrs who sacrificed their lives on this very day in 1952.”

What is the theme for International Mother Language Day 2021?

fostering multilingualism for inclusion in education and society
The theme of International Mother Language Day 2021 is “fostering multilingualism for inclusion in education and society.”

Why 21st February is important?

International Mother Language Day is celebrated every year on 21st February. The main purpose of celebrating this day is to promote the awareness of language and cultural diversity all across the world. It was first announced by UNESCO on November 17, 1999. Since then it is being celebrated every year.

Is mother tongue first language?

There is no significant difference between mother tongue and first language since both refer to a person’s native language. Mother tongue or first language is the language a person has been exposed to from the birth. It is usually the language one first learns. It is also the language a person is most fluent in.

How many countries celebrate 21st February?

And in nearly 200 countries of the world, various peoples speaking various languages and belonging to various national cultures will observe 21st February as the International Mother Language Day.

What is the mother language of the world?

Globally, English remains the most widely spoken language with 1.13 billion speakers in 2019, followed by Mandarin with 1.17 billion, according to the online database Ethnologue.

Which language did God speak?

Similar to Latin today, Hebrew was the chosen language for religious scholars and the holy scriptures, including the Bible (although some of the Old Testament was written in Aramaic). Jesus likely understood Hebrew, though his everyday life would have been conducted in Aramaic.

Can you have 2 first languages?

One can have two or more native languages, thus being a native bilingual or indeed multilingual. The order in which these languages are learned is not necessarily the order of proficiency.

What is difference between mother tongue and first language?

Mother tongue is the in-born language, which a baby has already familiarized even in the gestation of mother before it was born. The first language is the language which a child acquires either through schooling or socialization, such as family.

When is the International Mother Language Day celebrated?

On November 17, 1999, UNESCO acknowledged February 21 as International Mother Language Day in respect of the martyrs who defended the language. Each year, UNESCO declares the theme of the year’s international language day celebration.

Who was killed on international mother language day?

On 21 February 1952, police opened fire on rallies. Abdus Salam, Abul Barkat, Rafiq Uddin Ahmed, Abdul Jabbar and Shafiur Rahman died, with hundreds of others injured. This was a rare incident in history, where people sacrificed their lives for their mother tongue.

Is there progress in multilingual education for mothers?

Nevertheless, progress is being made in mother tongue-based multilingual education with growing understanding of its importance, particularly in early schooling, and more commitment to its development in public life.

Which is the mother language of East Pakistan?

The East Pakistan people protested, since the majority of the population was from East Pakistan and their mother language was Bangla. They demanded Bangla to be at least one of the national languages, in addition to Urdu.