International Mother Language Day

Quick Facts - NZ

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2024 Date21 February 2024
2025 Date21 February 2025

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International Mother Language Day

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International Mother Language Day seeks to promote and appreciate linguistic and cultural diversity worldwide. It is a day for all to take pride in their respective mother tongues and cultures, acknowledging their unique identities while fostering mutual respect and understanding. The celebration aims to enable people from different linguistic backgrounds to converse and interact freely, dispelling prejudices and stereotypes. It also seeks to engage governments, civil society and the private sector in formulating sound language policies that recognise and harness the potential benefits of linguistic diversity.

This commemoration traces its roots back to 1952, when students staged a protest in Dhaka, Bangladesh, fighting for the recognition of their language, Bengali. For New Zealand, the observance carries particular significance, given the nation's status as a bi-cultural society where English and Māori are the official languages. Although English is the most widely spoken, the revitalisation of the Māori language has been a significant focus, especially with the introduction of 'Te Reo in schools. Beyond these two, the increasing influx of migrants has also led to the acknowledgement of other languages like Samoan, Hindi, and Mandarin.

In Australia, the Human Rights Commission usually hosts an event that highlights different languages spoken throughout the country. Other initiatives have included multi-lingual storytelling sessions at public libraries, language workshops, and multicultural performances. Schools also engage students in different activities aimed at promoting language diversity. In New Zealand, International Mother Language Day is observed on the same date as the rest of the world, February 21st, marking a day of recognition, appreciation, and promotion of linguistic diversity and multiculturalism.

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Facts about International Mother Language Day

  • The theme for International Mother Language Day in 2023 was Multilingual education – a necessity to transform education.
  • According to Lingua.edu, as of 2023, the most spoken languages around the world are:
    1) English – 1.45 billion people
    2) Mandarin Chinese – 1.11 billion people
    3) Hindi – 602 million people
    4) Spanish – 534 million people
  • Mother languages in a multilingual approach are essential components of quality education, which is itself the foundation for empowering women and men in their societies. — Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director General.
  • The New Zealand government actively supports the use and revitalization of the Māori language through various policies and programs, such as Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (the Māori Language Commission), which aims to increase the number of Māori speakers and promote its usage in different domains.
  • The Treaty of Waitangi, signed in 1840, holds an important place in the recognition of Te Reo Māori in New Zealand. The treaty was written in both English and Māori, and it is considered a founding document of the nation.

Top things to do in NZ for this observance

  • Gather with friends and family to assess your local education system. Does it provide adequate language instruction and second language instruction? Second language acquisition has been linked with critical thinking, creativity and flexibility of the mind.
  • Generate awareness for International Mother Language Day by using the hashtags #InternationalMotherTongueDay, #IMLD, #motherlanguage or a hashtag followed by the language of your post (#english, #bengali, #xhosa).
  • Auckland Libraries: They often host programs and exhibitions to honor different languages and cultures celebrated in Auckland.
  • Language Workshops: Many institutions and organizations across New Zealand hold language workshops on International Mother Language Day to promote the use and preservation of different languages.

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