2016 International Mother Language Day: Quality education, language(s) of instruction and learning outcomes

UNESCO graphic
"Mother languages in a multilingual approach are essential components of quality education, which is itself the foundation for empowering women and men and their societies." Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director General

(February 2016) On 21 February of each year, UNESCO invites the world to celebrate local languages on International Mother Language Day (IMLD). This year's theme is "Quality education, language(s) of instruction and learning outcomes," which aligns with their Sustainable Development Goal 4 on education. This annual focus on mother languages is a platform to stress the importance of the vital need for quality education for all learners in both formal and non-formal instruction.

SIL staff will participate in celebrations in several IMLD-related events in locations around the world.

  • To celebrate the world's 7,000+ languages, SIL's Ethnologue will launch its 19th edition on IMLD.
     
  • In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), SIL staff will be conducting two half-day linguistics presentations on 19 and 20 February in collaboration with the Shalom University of Bunia and SIL Eastern Congo Group. At these sessions the linguistic Wall map of DRC will be presented to the public for the first time. Printed copies of the map will be available. Various local dignitaries have been invited.
     
  • In Ziguinchor, Senegal a celebration is planned in partnership with the Inspectorate Académique. Those attending represent literacy partners, staff from local radio and TV and other resident officials. The celebration will include dances, poems and songs in local languages, speeches in local languages (with French translations) and good food.

Senegalese women dance to celebrate International Mother Language Day​. Men peruse calendars and public health posters written in the Karon language

 (Click on Image to Enlarge)

  • SIL staff in Africa is participating and presenting papers at an IMLD conference being sponsored by the University of Nairobi and Bible Translation and Literacy. Susan Nyaga is presenting a paper titled “Can negative attitudes towards African languages be changed? The case of Kitharaka.” Timothy G. Kamau’s presentation is “The Role of Mother Tongue Materials in Enhancing Language Identity: The Case of Community Based Literature Development.”
     
  • An IMLD-related event on 23 February in Washington, DC will focus on "Language Diversity and its Impact on Poverty and Economic Integration in a Changing World." As people face poverty around the world, they need to overcome barriers to economic integration in many diverse geopolitical situations. Discussions will focus on whether proactively addressing language diversity may be at the core of solutions, instead of being seen as part of the poverty problem. The event co-sponsored by the Society for International Development, The Center for Applied Linguistics, MTB-MLE Network, FHI360 and SIL International.
     

Since language and identity are tightly intertwined, SIL recognizes the value of the mother tongue and is committed to supporting communities in ways that allow people to use their languages in new ways to address their changing needs. SIL provides technical support to language communities, government agencies and institutions and non-government organizations in planning and implementing strong and sustainable mother tongue-based multilingual education programs in both the formal and non-formal systems. 

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