11th International Mother Language Day

Poster from here

21 February was proclaimed the International Mother Language Day by the General Conference of Unesco on 17 November 1999.

International Mother Language Day originated as the international recognition of Language Movement Day, which has been commemorated in Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) since 1952, when a number of Dhaka university students were killed by the Pakistani police and army in Dhaka during the Bengali Language Movement.

The International Mother Language Day, has been observed yearly since February 2000 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.

2010 is International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures what is an invitation to talk. Multilingualism is essential to the conversation that leads to mutual understanding. Language learning and translation are therefore vital to the unity of humankind. Such are the major thrusts of the 11th International Mother Language Day.

Read the Message of Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO (pdf file) on the occasion of 2010 International Mother Language Day.