International Mother Language Day 2024: International Mother Language Day occurs on February 21 each year. Originating as a Bangla language movement in East Pakistan, which is now the sovereign nation of Bangladesh, this movement emerged. It was initiated to safeguard the Bangla language, which was extensively spoken throughout Bangladesh. It is equally crucial that we recognize on this day that there are numerous languages in the world and that every effort be made to safeguard their heritage and survival.
International Mother Language Day History
Since the year 2000, International Mother Language Day has been observed annually on a global scale. The UNESCO announcement was initially made on November 17, 1999. The United Nations General Assembly formally acknowledged it in late 2002 through the passage of U.N. resolution 56/262.
Bangladesh undertook this endeavor to observe International Mother Language Day. The 21st of February is also the anniversary of the Bangladeshi people’s struggle for Bangla language recognition. This dates back to the establishment of Pakistan in 1947. Geographically distinct regions, referred to as East Pakistan and West Pakistan comprised it. These regions possessed languages and cultures that were notably dissimilar.
Dhirendranath Datta, a representative from East Pakistan, made a formal request in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan in 1948 for Bangla to be recognized as one of the national languages, alongside Urdu. Although numerous demonstrations were organized in support of this objective, the Pakistani government prohibited public gatherings and rallies to suppress them. After this, University of Dhaka students and members of the general public orchestrated enormous rallies and gatherings. Even the police opened fire during these demonstrations.
The Bangladesh parliament considered Rafiqul Islam’s proposal many years after the country’s inception. UNESCO was also presented with a formal proposal by the Government of Bangladesh. The 30th General Assembly of UNESCO adopted a unanimous resolution on November 17, 1999, designating February 21 as International Mother Language Day globally. This day was established in remembrance of the martyrs who made the ultimate sacrifice on February 21, 1952.
Bangladeshis observe this day by paying their respects and expressing their profound mourning at the Shaheed Minar, a memorial structure constructed in remembrance of the martyrs, or by visiting one of its replicas.
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FAQs regarding International Mother Language Day
What is the earliest known language in existence?
The most primordial language in the world is Sanskrit, which is also referred to as Devbhasha. It has been noted that Sanskrit serves as the model for every European language.
Which language is most challenging to master?
Finnish, Polish, Mandarin, Icelandic, Japanese, Hungarian, Korean, Arabic, and Hungarian are among the most challenging languages to learn.
Which tongue has the most difficult grammar?
Hungarian and Finnish possess the most arduous grammatical structures and can be exceedingly difficult to comprehend.
How to Celebrate World Mother Language Day.
Enroll in a language course.
Register for an international language course in observance of International Mother Language Day. The language in question may range from French to Mandarin to Spanish to Hindi. The sheer number of languages in existence is certain to astonish you.
Communicate using your native tongue
On International Mother Language Day, make every effort to communicate in your native tongue, at least among your family. Frequently, individuals find themselves conversing in a neutral language, neglecting fundamental vocabulary in their mother tongue. You have the opportunity to change that today.
Instruct a language
Already possess multilingualism? Indeed, you can instruct a family member or friend in a foreign language using your expertise. This will also assist you in perfecting the language and refreshing your knowledge.
Five linguistic facts concerning mother tongues
The Indian tongues
The majority of Indian languages are classified as Afro-Asiatic, Dravidian, Indo-Aryan, or Sino-Tibetan.
Numerous thousand dialects
An estimated 7,000 languages are spoken in different parts of the world.
P. New Guinea Papua
Papua New Guinea is home to the greatest number of languages in the globe, 840.
Languages that are extinction
An estimated 2,400 languages are in peril of extinction across the globe.
The English language contains the most terms.
With more than 250,000 words, English is the language with the greatest word count.
INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | February 21 | Wednesday |
| 2025 | February 21 | Friday |
| 2026 | February 21 | Saturday |
| 2027 | February 21 | Sunday |
| 2028 | February 21 | Monday |
