国际母语日的历史
国际母语日由联合国教科文组织UNESCO于1999年11月17日其大会上倡议从2000年起,把每年的2月21日定为“国际母语日”。2007年5月16日,联合国大会通过了有关《使用多种语文》的第266号决议,决议欢迎教科文组织设立“国际母语日”,并“呼吁请会员国促进世界各地人民使用的所有语文的保存和保护工作”。在同一决议中,大会还宣布2008年为国际语文年,并邀请联合国教育、科学及文化组织担任该年的领头机构,以期通过提倡多种语文和文化的多样性,促进国际了解,在多样之中寻求统一。 其实,定2月21日为国际母语日有其历史渊源,因为1952年当孟加拉(Bengal)还属於巴基斯坦时,为争取把孟加拉语(Bengali)列为官方语文之一,民众游行示威时在2月21日当天,警察向示威者开枪,造成5名学生被杀,从此启动孟加拉的独立运动,终于在20年后独立并且建碑纪念这5名语文烈士。联合国教科文组织最终在47年后决议,颁定“国际母语日”,以此来强调母语的重要性。 筹办国际母语日,旨在促进语言和文化的多样性及其永续发展,同时向大众宣传保护及使用母语的重要性,并鼓励各国使用多于一种语言,因为母语是每个人用来和他人沟通交流的第一语言,而语言是保存和发展人类物质和非物质遗产最有力的工具。各种促进母语传播的运动,不仅有助于语言的多样化和多语种教育,而且能够提高对全世界各语言和文化传统的认识,以此在理解、容忍和对话的基础上,促成世界人民的团结。 马来西亚是28个赞同联合国教科文组织将2月21日列为母语日的其中一个国家,因为我国是个多元种族多元语言文化的国家。
UNESCO declaration of International Mother Language Day
- The UNESCO has announced February 21st as the International Mother Language Day to be observed globally in recognition of the sacrifices of the martyrs for establishing the rightful place of Bangla. The proclamation came in the form of a resolution unanimously adopted at the plenary of the UNESCO at its head quarters in Paris in November 1999.
- The UNESCO in its resolution said globally the recognition was given bearing in mind that to spread mother tongue widely will not only add variety in language and encourage multilingual education but also to develop fuller variety about language and cultural tradition throughout the world and to inspire unity based on understanding tolerance and dialogue.
- The resolution was tabled in Bangladesh. It is a great tribute and glowing homage paid by the international community to the Language martyrs of Bangladesh.
- The government proclaimed in Dhaka that the plenary of the UNESCO general Conference unanimously adopted a draft resolution tabled 1 by Bangladesh for proclamation of ‘International Mother Language Day’ to be observed on February 21.
- Giving the world recognition to Bangladeshi’s sacrifice of blood for their mother tongue, UNESCO proclaimed February 21 as International Mother Language Day.
- The sacrifices of all the martyrs for championing the cause of their mother tongue have received now a glorious recognition by the people of the world.
Useful Link: Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education. If you don’t understand, how can you learn?