February 21, 2014
February 21, known as International Mother Language Day (IMLD), offers a chance to honor the world’s linguistic diversity and the efforts to preserve endangered languages. This year, a collaborative initiative led by Global Voices, the Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages, and the Endangered Languages Project encouraged users worldwide to celebrate by tweeting in their native languages.
The campaign, supported by Twitter, urged participants to forgo English—the dominant language on the platform—for the day. Instead, users were asked to create and share content in their mother tongues, reflecting on the importance of linguistic and cultural preservation. The designated hashtag #IMLD14 allowed participants to connect globally and amplify each other’s voices.The Importance of Mother Languages
According to UNESCO, approximately 7,000 languages are spoken worldwide, with many at risk of extinction due to globalization, political suppression, and the dominance of a few major languages like English. Losing a language means losing a unique cultural heritage, collective identity, and historical continuity.
One Ethiopian Twitter user highlighted this, writing:
“In Ethiopia, mother tongues are the cornerstone of politics and political disputes. We must write and speak in our native languages to convey our concerns to the people of our country.”
In Catalonia, Spain, a user emphasized the link between language and cultural identity:
“Hold on tightly to your mother tongue. Don’t let your cultural heritage be lost in the hegemony of three or four dominant world languages.”
Meanwhile, a Turkish user reflected on how changes in language policy can disrupt cultural connections:
“In Turkey, no one can read the inscriptions on mosque tiles or old buildings because the previous script is no longer taught. Changing scripts and languages leads to cultural disconnection.”
Challenges in the Digital Age
While many celebrated the day by sharing tweets in their native languages, others acknowledged the challenges of incorporating globalized concepts into traditional languages. A Brazilian user posed a critical question:
“Tell me, how do you translate 'tweet' into your native language?”
This concern echoes the struggle of adapting local languages to digital and technological contexts, a vital step in ensuring their survival in a rapidly changing world.
Balancing Tradition and Modernity
Some participants pointed out the dual necessity of preserving native languages while mastering global ones. A Tanzanian woman wrote:
“Although preserving the mother tongue is important, learning English and other major languages is also crucial. Without knowing these languages, how can we communicate with each other?”
A Platform for Connection
The campaign also fostered connections among speakers of endangered languages. Users shared intriguing facts about their native tongues, such as a Chinese participant who revealed:
“The Chinese language has 50,000 characters. One must know at least 2,000 characters to read a newspaper in Chinese.”
Another Chinese user brought attention to the Ho-ne language, spoken by only 1,000 people, and stressed its urgent need for preservation.
Moving Forward
International Mother Language Day underscores the importance of digital media in reviving and sustaining endangered languages. By creating online content in their native tongues, participants not only celebrated their heritage but also contributed to a growing repository of linguistic diversity.
As social media continues to connect global communities, initiatives like this pave the way for a more inclusive digital space where every language has a voice. On this International Mother Language Day, the message is clear: preserving our linguistic heritage is a shared responsibility—and an act of cultural empowerment.
References
Tweet in Your Mother Language on February 21
Celebrating International Mother Language Day by Writing in Your Native Language on Twitter