21st of February – International Mother Language Day

International Mother Language Day, proclaimed by the General Conference of UNESCO on November 17, 1999, has been celebrated every February 21 since 2000 with the aim of promoting linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.

In turn, the UN General Assembly in its resolution declared 2008 the International Year of Languages. 2010 was proclaimed the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures.

The date for the Day was chosen to commemorate the events that took place in Dhaka (now the capital of Bangladesh) on February 21, 1952, when students were killed by police bullets while demonstrating in defense of their native language Bengali, which they demanded to be recognized as one of the official languages of the country.

Languages are the most powerful tool for the preservation and development of our material and spiritual heritage. According to UNESCO estimates, half of the approximately 6,000 languages of the world may soon lose their last speakers. Every two weeks one language disappears in the world, taking with it a whole cultural and intellectual heritage.

All steps to promote the spread of native languages serve not only to promote linguistic diversity and multilingual education, develop a fuller acquaintance with linguistic and cultural traditions around the world, but also strengthen solidarity based on mutual understanding, tolerance, and dialogue.

Every year, as part of the Mother Language Day celebrations, different countries host a variety of theme-specific events aimed at promoting respect, as well as the promotion and protection of all languages (especially endangered languages), linguistic diversity, and multilingualism. Thus, in different years the Day was devoted to the following topics: the relationship between the mother tongue and multilingualism, especially in education; braille and sign language; raising public awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions based on mutual understanding, tolerance and dialogue; safeguarding the intangible heritage of humanity and preserving cultural diversity; the role of the language taught in schools and others.

There might still be a distance between you and your lady from VeronikaLove due to the language barrier, but ladies do their best to study English! You may always help them by sending real English Courses from the Gifts! And your mother language will become their second one! Or you may Chat with them online, and they will exchange with you the knowledge of their language! As love - is the language that will break all barriers!

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