PARIS — The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has highlighted the importance of linguistic diversity and preservation in a message marking International Mother Language Day.
The annual observance celebrates the world’s 7,000 living languages, which UNESCO describes as essential to the identity and culture of nations.
To commemorate the occasion, the organization has released a new edition of the book What Makes Us Human? in Hawaiian, adding to the more than 30 languages in which it has been published.
International Mother Language Day was first proposed by Bangladesh and adopted by UNESCO in 1999. Since 2000, it has been observed worldwide to promote linguistic and cultural diversity.
UNESCO emphasizes that preserving linguistic diversity fosters tolerance, mutual respect, and global peace. Multilingual societies, it says, play a vital role in transmitting traditional knowledge and cultural heritage sustainably.
However, the world’s linguistic diversity is under threat, with many languages at risk of extinction. An estimated 40 percent of the global population lacks access to education in their mother tongue. In recent years, greater attention has been given to multilingual education, particularly at the primary level, with countries pledging to expand its use in public life and education systems.
By marking International Mother Language Day, UNESCO seeks to promote linguistic diversity and support global efforts to protect endangered languages and expand mother-tongue education.
