International Mother Language Day

“We die. That may be the meaning of life. But we do language. That may be the measure of our lives.”- Toni Morrison. There is growing awareness that languages play a vital role in development. The position of language and its role in development should not be discounted given its place in ensuring cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue, but also in strengthening co-operation and attaining quality education for all. Acknowledging the importance of language is critical in preserving cultural heritage especially in marginalized communities. The United Nation has been a visionary in this regard and as such the International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in November 1999. International Mother Language Day is observed annually on February 21st. The 2024 theme “Multilingual education – a pillar of learning and intergenerational learning”, are crucial for inclusive education and the preservation of indigenous languages. By starting education in the learner's mother tongue and gradually introducing other languages, barriers between home and school are bridged, facilitating effective learning. On May 16th, 2007 the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution called upon Member States "to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by peoples of the world". By the same resolution, the General Assembly proclaimed 2008 as the International Year of Languages, to promote unity in diversity and international understanding, through multilingualism and multiculturalism. The United Nations affirms that multilingual and multicultural societies thrive through the preservation of their languages, which serve as conduits for traditional knowledge and cultural heritage. However, linguistic diversity faces increasing threats as more languages vanish. Disturbingly, 40% of the global population lacks access to education in their native language, a figure that exceeds 90% in certain regions. Research underscores the benefits of using learners' native languages in education, fostering better learning outcomes, self-esteem, and critical thinking skills. This approach also supports intergenerational learning and cultural preservation. Safeguarding Linguistic Diversity. The UN states that languages, with their complex implications for identity, communication, social integration, education and development, are of strategic importance for people and planet. However due to globalization processes, they are increasingly under threat, or disappearing altogether. When languages fade, so does the world's rich tapestry of cultural diversity. Additionally, opportunities, traditions, memory, unique modes of thinking and expression, valuable resources for ensuring a better future, are also lost. Alarmingly, every two weeks a language disappears taking with it an entire cultural and intellectual heritage. The UN adds that at least 45% of the estimated 7000 languages spoken in the world are endangered. Unfortunately, only a few hundred languages have genuinely been given a place in education systems and the public domain, and less than a hundred are used in the digital world. Discrimination of Native Languages. “Your ability to use the European language, be it English, French or Dutch, is seen as an indicator of educational attainment,” said Clive Forrester, a linguistics professor at Canada’s University of Waterloo and secretary of the Society for Caribbean Linguistics. In Jamaica, the Creole is known as Patois. In Dominica, Kwéyòl, is one of many Creole variants spoken on more than a dozen Caribbean islands complex cultural creations that were long considered informal, inferior and broken languages spoken by uneducated people. Professor Carolyn Cooper has been an advocate for Teaching English as a Second Language. According to Cooper “instead of deceiving ourselves about the English language competency of most Jamaicans, we should face the facts. English is not being taught efficiently. That's largely because the powers that be assume that the mother language of most Jamaicans isn't actually a language. They insist that it's nothing but a 'corruption' of English.” Professor Warner-Lewis makes the case that English and Jamaican Creole are distinct languages: "One of the most significant differences between English and [Jamaican] Creole lies in their grammar. Each language has a grammar: its speakers would not understand each other if words were juggled together in a haphazard manner. Creole, therefore, is a language because it has a grammar." Professor Warner-Lewis expounds: "The 'learning of Patois' in school is, therefore, not aimed at teaching most Jamaican children to speak a language which they already know. What is intended is for them to differentiate between the structures of the language they speak and the structures of another language which they are attempting to learn." In spite of the rigorous academic discourse patois is still frowned upon in many circles in Jamaica. Creole speakers are viewed as less intelligent than those who think they are speaking Standard British English. Interestingly, the on-going debate in academic circles regarding whether or not patois should be officially sanctioned as a language of instruction appears to be going around in circles. The discrimination speakers of native languages face are real and these individuals are oftentimes marginalized and powerless. The Jamaican Language Unit (JLU) at the University of the West Indies, Mona was established in direct response to the issue of language rights as human rights. This feeling of inferiority which many indigenous people experience is clearly related to a cultural imperialist ideology in which those who wield power in the society try to control the minds of the majority by forcing them to think that there is little or no value in them speaking in their mother language. This linguistic power play in society is obviously a violation of human rights since speakers of the mother language are sometimes denied some services due to a fear of being ridiculed or laughed at. This is problematic, and we need to move to resolve this urgently. As a result of this ongoing language discrimination indigenous peoples are locked in a vicious cycle of poverty. Why do we continue to use the language as an indicator of one’s social status? One’s language should be viewed as a liberating tool instead of a vehicle of oppression. Pride in local Creole languages has grown in recent years, although only a handful of Caribbean nations so far have declared them official, including Haiti, Aruba and Curacao. Language Tolerance. The way forward must involve the State reinforcing in the populace that there is no shame in speaking in one’s native or mother language. Without a doubt multilingual and multicultural societies exist through their languages, which transmit and preserve traditional knowledge and cultures in a sustainable way. Given our world of intolerance, International Mother Language Day serves as a powerful reminder for us to protect language diversity and tolerance. On this International Mother Language Day let us work together and arrive at a consensus regarding the significance of Mother Language Education in supporting literacy. Happy International Mother Language Day. In the words of Rita Mae Brown, a language is not just words. It’s a culture, a tradition, a unification of a community. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #InternationalMotherLanguageDay #LanguageDiscrimination