World Language Day. International Mother Language Day. Congratulations in prose and poetry

International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by the General Conference of UNESCO in November 1999 and is celebrated annually on 21 February to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.

This date was chosen to commemorate the events of February 21, 1952, when in Dhaka, the capital of present-day Bangladesh, students who participated in a demonstration in defense of their native language Bengali, which they demanded to be recognized as one of the official languages of the country, were killed by police bullets.

Language is the most powerful tool for preserving and developing world cultural heritage. Mother tongue activities promote not only linguistic diversity and multilingualism, but also a greater understanding of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world.

By introducing Mother Language Day into the international calendar, UNESCO called on countries to develop, support and intensify activities aimed at respecting and protecting all languages, especially those in danger of extinction.
The theme of the Day 2016 is “Quality of education, language(s) of instruction and learning outcomes.”

Experts believe that if action is not taken, half of the six thousand languages spoken in the world today will disappear by the end of the 21st century, and humanity may lose the most important ancient knowledge contained in indigenous languages.

Globally, 43% (2,465) of languages are at risk of extinction. Among the countries with the largest number of endangered languages, India (197 languages) and the United States (191) rank first, followed by Brazil (190), China (144), Indonesia (143), and Mexico (143).

According to UNESCO's Atlas of the World's Endangered Languages, more than 200 languages have disappeared over the past three generations. Recently extinct languages include Manx (Isle of Man), which disappeared with the death of Ned Muddrell in 1974, Asa in Tanzania - disappeared in 1976, Ubykh (Turkey) - disappeared in 1992 with the death of Tevfik Esenç, Eyak (Alaska, USA) — disappeared in 2008 with the death of Mary Smith Jones.

In sub-Saharan Africa, where there are about two thousand languages (about a third of all the world's languages), at least 10% of them could disappear in the next 100 years.

Some languages - extinct, according to the Atlas classification - are in a state of active revival. Among them are the Cornish language (Cornish) or Sishi (New Caledonia).

The Russian language is one of the so-called world (global) languages. It is native to approximately 164 million people.

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

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

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

Languages are the most powerful tool for preserving and developing our material and spiritual heritage. According to UNESCO estimates, half of the world's approximately 6 thousand languages may soon lose their last speakers.

All steps taken to promote the spread of mother tongues serve not only to promote linguistic diversity and multilingual education, to develop greater familiarity with linguistic and cultural traditions around the world, but also to strengthen solidarity based on mutual understanding, tolerance and dialogue.

On February 21, 2003, on the occasion of International Mother Language Day, UNESCO Director-General K. Matsuura noted: “Why is so much attention paid to the mother tongue? Because languages constitute a unique expression of human creativity in all its diversity. As a tool of communication, perception and reflection, language also describes how we see the world and reflects the connection between the past, present and future. Languages bear traces of chance encounters, the various sources from which they were saturated, each according to its own separate history.

Mother tongues are unique in the way they imprint each person from the moment of birth, endowing him with a special vision of things that never really disappears, despite the fact that a person subsequently masters many languages. Learning a foreign language is a way to get acquainted with a different vision of the world, with different approaches.”

And each year, as part of Mother Language Day celebrations, different countries host various events dedicated to a specific theme and aimed at promoting respect, as well as promoting and protecting 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 native language and multilingualism, especially in education; Braille system and sign language; raising public awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions based on mutual understanding, tolerance and dialogue; protection of the intangible heritage of humanity and preservation of cultural diversity; the role of the language in which teaching is conducted in schools and others.

Mongolian is the language of the Mongols and the official language of Mongolia. The term can be used more widely: for the Mongolian language of Mongolia and Inner Mongolia in China, for all languages of the Mongolian group, in a historical context for languages such as ancient Common Mongolian and Old Written Mongolian languages.

The language of the Mongols, the main population of Mongolia, as well as Inner Mongolia and the Russian Federation. Based on the main dialect, it is often called Khalkha-Mongolian or simply Khalkha.

The Khalkha Mongolian dialect (or language) has a literary norm and the status of the official language in Mongolia. The number of speakers is about 2.3 million people. (1995). The Khalkha dialect is part of the central group of dialects of the Mongolian language. Along with it, the eastern and western groups are also distinguished. The differences between dialects are mainly phonetic.

The national language of Mongolia began to take shape after the Mongolian People's Revolution (1921) on the basis of the Khalkha dialect. Since 1943 - writing based on the Cyrillic alphabet.

The Khalkha Mongolian language, together with the Mongolian written language, is part of the Mongolian family of languages. This family is divided into the following groups:

Northern Mongolian languages: Buryat, Kalmyk, Ordos, Khamnigan, Oirat;
Southern Mongolian languages: Dagur, Shira-Yugur, Dongxiang, Baoan, Tu language (Mongolian);
Mughal stands apart in Afghanistan.

By their structure, these are agglutinative languages with elements of inflection. The majority (except Kalmyk and Buryat) are characterized by impersonal conjugation. In the field of morphology, they are also characterized by the absence of a sharp line between inflection and word formation: for example, different case forms of the same word often function lexically as new words and allow a secondary declension, the basis of which is not the primary stem, but the case form. The role of possessive pronouns is played by special suffixes: personal and impersonal. The presence of predicative suffixes gives the impression that names can be conjugated. Parts of speech are poorly differentiated. The following parts of speech are distinguished: noun, verb and immutable particles. Noun and adjective in most living and written languages are not differentiated morphologically and differ only in terms of syntax.

In the area of syntax, the characteristic position of the definition before the defined, the predicate is usually at the end of sentences and the lack of agreement in the case of the definition and the defined, as well as different members of the sentence.

International Mother Language Day

International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by the General Conference of UNESCO in November 1999 and has been celebrated every year on 21 February since 2000 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. This date was chosen to commemorate the events of February 21, 1952, when in Dhaka, the capital of present-day Bangladesh, students participating in a demonstration in defense of their native language Bengali, which they demanded to be recognized as one of the official languages of the country, were killed by police bullets.

According to experts, a native language is in danger of extinction if more than 30% of children in a particular community stop learning it. According to the Atlas of the World's Endangered Languages, prepared by UNESCO in 2009, over the last three generations of people, out of 6,000 languages existing in the world, more than 200 languages have already disappeared, 538 are in a critical situation, 502 languages are seriously threatened, 651 are in danger and 607 in a state of instability.

In Russia, 136 languages are in danger, and 20 have already been declared dead.

In addition to the 20 extinct languages (for example, Ainu, Yug), in Russia another 22 languages are considered to be in critical condition (Aleut, Terek-Sami, Itelmen), 29 are in serious danger (Nivkh, Chukchi, Karelian). 49 languages are endangered, including Kalmyk and Udmurt. The situation of 20 languages causes concern, including Chechen, Yakut and Tuvan.

It is worth considering that Udmurt, Kalmyk, Yakut, Tuvan and Chechen are the official languages of Russia.

Quotes about native language

“Prefer your native language over all others.” Habakkuk.
“Whose tongue is the power”. Ancient Rome.
“Language is the confession of the people,

His nature is heard in him,

His soul and life are dear..."

P. Vyazemsky.

“And we will preserve you, Russian speech, the great Russian word” A. Akhmatova.
“There is no doubt that the Russian language is one of the richest languages in the world.” V. G. Belinsky.
“An intemperate tongue is the worst of evils.” Euripides.
“If you don’t know how to wield an ax, you won’t be able to cut down a tree, but the language is also a tool, a musical instrument, and you need to learn to use it easily and beautifully.” A. M. Gorky.
“In days of doubt, in days of painful thoughts about the fate of my Motherland, you alone are my support and support, oh great, mighty, truthful and free Russian language.” I. S. Turgenev.
“Take care of our language, our beautiful Russian language, this treasure, this heritage passed on by our predecessors.” I. S. Turgenev.
“The word is a great thing. Great, because with a word you can unite people and separate them, with a word you can serve love, and with a word you can serve enmity and hatred.” L. N. Tolstoy.
“And we have no other property! Know how to protect, at least to the best of your ability, in days of anger and suffering, our immortal gift – speech.” I. Bunin.
“My only asset is Russian speech. There is nothing more precious than a phrase that so envelops a thought as if it were one and the same thing.” D. Samoilov.
“We must stand firmer and firmer,

We must love more and more,

Everything must be kept more strictly

The gold of Russian speech." D. Samoilov.

“A beautiful thought loses all its value if it is poorly expressed.” Voltaire.
“There is no just a word. It is either a curse, or congratulations, or beauty, or pain, or dirt, or a flower, or a lie, or truth, or a network, or darkness.”

R. Gamzatov.

“There is no word that would be so sweeping, lively, would burst out from under the very heart, would seethe and vibrate so vividly, like a well-spoken Russian word.” N.V. Gogol.
“You marvel at the preciousness of our language: every sound is a gift; everything is grainy, large, like the pearl itself, and, truly, another name is even more precious than the thing itself.” N.V. Gogol.
“For everything that exists in nature... there are a great many good words and names in the Russian language.” K. Paustovsky.
“...And if, nevertheless, love for one’s fatherland, one’s language and one’s homeland remains for a long time, then this will be only a living branch on the living trunk of universal gratitude.” V. G. Korolenko.

LOVE AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR NATIVE LANGUAGE!

The existence of the planet is inextricably linked with the development of population and speech. Linguistic diversity is inexorably tending to decrease, which raises fears of the complete disappearance of most currently existing languages.

Story

International Mother Language Day appeared in 1999 at the establishment of the General Conference of UNESCO and entered the calendar life of our planet in 2000. When proclaiming this holiday, the primary task was set - to preserve “endangered” languages, as well as to bring together the cultural and linguistic diversity of the peoples of the world.

A memorable day was chosen as the date for Language Day. In Dhaka in 1952, on February 21, during a demonstration in support of the native language, students who proposed raising the holiday to an official level were killed by police.

Every year this holiday takes on a specific theme, drawing attention to various problems in the linguistic field. The following questions are raised and considered:

Sign language and Braille system.
Promotion between mother tongue and multilingualism.
Preservation of cultural plurality.
Coverage of different cultural traditions.
·Quality of linguistic education, etc.

UNESCO staff determined that a huge number of languages were used by the population on our planet, 200 of which have completely disappeared, and more than 2 thousand are on the verge of extinction, and only about 6 thousand languages are used.

In every country there are languages that may disappear with the death of their last speakers. The countries with the highest number of dying languages now are Indonesia, India, China, Brazil, Mexico, and the USA.

The reasons for the disappearance of a language are varied:

decreased birth rate;
wars;
deportation;
migration;
epidemics;
language mixing.

In the modern world, these factors are also supplemented by the emergence of dominant languages, the knowledge of which is more profitable.

The disappearance of languages is dangerous not only from a linguistic point of view. Entire cultural layers may disappear due to the loss of traditions and folk art, which are directly related to the history of the language.

Traditions

On this day, employees of all UNESCO branches organize language events; various conferences, seminars, exhibitions, and concerts are held in all countries.

In Russia, many schools hold lessons that introduce children to the linguistic history of our planet and the topic of the disappearance of languages. Teachers tell why some languages are being “erased from the face of the Earth” and teach children to love and respect both their native and foreign languages.

Each nation has its own unique and inimitable language, which corresponds to the purpose of man and carries with it a whole heritage. The inhabitants of a particular state have their own characteristic features, traditions, culture, and the language is a direct reflection of them. It conveys the entire identity of the people, so the native language is a source of real pride. And Mother Language Day is a very important and necessary holiday.

Background

Like any celebration, this one has its own historical background. Its celebration was made possible by the events that took place in 1952 in Pakistan. Those from Dhaka University took part in a demonstration against the Urdu language. The majority spoke the Bengali dialect, so it was this language that the protesters demanded to recognize as the state language. However, they not only did not listen to them, but also began to shoot. As a result, four student activists were killed. Following the deaths of these and other people in Pakistan, as well as a series of unrest and liberation movements, Bengali was declared the official language of the country. The struggle for the right to use the manner of communication familiar from childhood was crowned with success. Subsequently, through an initiative (recognized in 1971 by an independent state), the UNESCO organization proclaimed the date February 21 as International Mother Language Day, which has been celebrated annually throughout the world for 14 years.

How this day is celebrated in different countries

It is not for nothing that Mother Language Day is recognized internationally. It is celebrated in many countries. In some of them, people adhere to certain orders and traditions in celebration, in others - each time everything takes place according to a completely new plan. Let's take a look at a few of the countries that first come to mind.

Bangladesh

I really want to touch upon this particular country, since here Mother Language Day is considered a national holiday, since the anniversary of February 21 became a turning point in the fate of people and in the history of the entire country. As a rule, residents of Bengal on this day organize a festive procession, lay flowers in memory of the martyrs in Dhaka (at the Shaheed Minar monument), and sing patriotic songs. Cultural programs, festive dinners, and prizes are awarded at city venues. There is also a special ritual associated with this great day for Bengalis. They buy special glass bracelets for themselves and relatives, thereby emphasizing their attachment to their native language and paying tribute to the national traditions and history of their country.

International Mother Language Day is a special occasion in Bangladesh. Every year, any event for Mother Language Day is prepared with special scope and honor. The government and non-governmental organizations of the country encourage in every possible way the holding of various kinds of events, trying to support the love of fellow citizens for their native language, and also do this with the aim of preserving and further developing the indigenous speech.

Switzerland

Let's touch on Europe. For example, in Switzerland, on February 21, Mother Language Day is celebrated in an educational spirit. Promotions, practical classes, and numerous seminars are held. Particularly acute in this country is the issue of families in which children speak two languages and both are native to them. The authorities, teachers and parents are well aware that such children require a special approach, which is why the country is developing individual programs for training and educating the younger generation, which are being successfully implemented.

English-speaking countries

In many countries of Europe and not only (England, Ireland, Singapore, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, and even the whole continent, and therefore native English), it must be admitted that it is, in fact, included consisting of six therefore has the most direct relation to the holiday.In any negotiations, travel and simply in communication, it will be your main lifesaver.

Each language is beautiful and wonderful in its own way, so we must not forget it, love it, cherish it and be proud of it!

Mother Language Day in Russia

In our country, love for our native language can be compared to a feeling of true patriotism that permeates everything and each of us. Especially when we are talking about primordially Slavic values, to which we can confidently include the Russian language.

There are many different worthy statements about the Russian word, but no one has yet expressed themselves on this topic better than the classics. The most accurate sayings that clearly reflect our spirit of patriotism include the Russian writer I. S. Turgenev, who said: “... you alone are my support and support, oh great, mighty, truthful and free Russian language.” Or it is enough to recall the decisive statement of V. G. Belinsky, he argued that “the Russian language is one of the richest languages in the world, and there is no doubt about it.” It is perhaps difficult to disagree with these brilliant people, since thanks to our language we think, communicate, and create.

In our country, Mother Language Day, the script of which is carefully thought out and prepared in advance, is held in many schools, libraries, cultural centers, higher education institutions and other educational institutions. Students carefully select the key in which the topic will be covered, learn words, and rehearse. All designated events, as a rule, are of a solemn, patriotic and educational nature. They are held with the aim of instilling in children a sense of respect and love for their culture, history, traditions and, of course, their native Russian language.

Vanishing dialects

In statistical terms, today, out of six thousand languages existing in the world, more than two hundred are considered extinct; they do not have a single living speaker. There is also the unfortunate linguistic category of endangered and endangered types of speech (with almost no descendants speaking them). And unstable languages that are not successful because they do not have official status, and their distribution area is so small that the prospects for their continued existence leave much to be desired.

In Russia, about 140 languages are on the verge of falling into disuse, and twenty have already been recognized as lifeless.

Each native language has its own characteristics and culture. It distinguishes nations, makes people appreciate and respect their indigenous style of speech, and pass it on from generation to generation. Therefore, Mother Language Day should definitely be supported as an international holiday, encouraged and carried out at the proper level in all countries of the world.