United Nations (UN) International Mother Language Day annually celebrates language diversity and variety worldwide today.
The theme for IMLD 2014 is “local languages for global citizenship: spotlight on science”. People are encouraged to read books, texts, poems etc in their local or a lesser resourced language “somewhere in public” if possible.
This may raise awareness for all the Mother Languages in the world.
On International Mother Language Day the UN’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and UN agencies participate in events that promote linguistic and cultural diversity.
They also encourage people to maintain their knowledge of their mother language while learning and using more than one language. Governments and non-governmental organizations may use the day to announce policies to encourage language learning and support.
On November 17, 1999, UNESCO proclaimed February 21 to be International Mother Language Day and it was first observed on February 21, 2000. Each year the celebrations around International Mother Language Day concentrate on a particular theme.