Dr. Baraheni: "Mother Tongue is Sacred"

Mohammad Tajdolati - Radio Zamaneh - March 1, 2010

Report on a Panel in Toronto for International Mother Language Day

For over 10 years, February 21 has been recognized by the United Nations and UNESCO as “International Mother Language Day,” with various programs held annually to emphasize the importance of mother languages.

Although the right to learn and be taught in one’s mother tongue is acknowledged in the Islamic Republic of Iran’s constitution, it has long been restricted. This denial has led to ongoing protests from Iranians belonging to diverse ethnic and cultural groups who wish to learn and speak in their native languages.

In this context, on February 21, the “Iranian-Canadian Foundation for Language and Culture of Azerbaijan”—established six years ago by Iranian Turks in Canada—organized a lecture on the importance of mother languages at the auditorium of a public library in Toronto.

Over 100 Iranians attended the event, which was held in Persian, with lectures by Dr. Reza Baraheni, a writer and poet; Dr. Reza Moridi, an Iranian-Canadian member of Ontario’s Parliament; Dr. Fereydoun Rahmani, president of the Ontario Kurdish House; and Dr. Abbas Azadian, a well-known psychotherapist in the Canadian Iranian community.

Dr. Reza Moridi: One of the Founders of the Foundation for Language and Culture of Azerbaijan

Dr. Reza Moridi, one of the founders of the Language and Culture Foundation of Azerbaijan, highlighted the importance of mother languages and the history of naming February 21 as International Mother Language Day, saying:

"There are fewer than 200 countries in the world, all members of the United Nations, while we have around 6,000 languages. This shows that no country has only one language.

"If the issue of language is not addressed among nations and if they do not accept each other’s languages, this issue will turn into political tension in various countries and endanger world peace. History records many wars based on ethnic and cultural differences."

In another part of his talk, Dr. Moridi stated:

"I hope that in our beloved homeland of Iran, the issue of language will soon be resolved. All languages should be free so that our people can comfortably connect with each other and learn different languages. Sometimes, I think about the great betrayal in Iran; we could have learned so many languages. For instance, I might have been able to learn Kurdish, and our Persian-speaking friends could have learned Turkish. If there were acceptance of languages in Iran, each of us could have learned five to six languages. This opportunity has been withheld from us.

"I hope that, in the future, these barriers will be removed, and the people of Iran will be close to each other, with mutual respect for each other’s languages and customs."

The Persian translation of a message by UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, for International Mother Language Day, was also presented to the attendees.

The UNESCO Director-General’s message noted that International Mother Language Day has been celebrated at UNESCO’s headquarters for over ten years. It emphasized the multiple, vital functions of language across various fields, such as culture, economy, and education. The first words and individual thoughts, which are the foundation of history and culture, are expressed in one’s mother tongue, and educating children in their native language during the early stages of learning is essential.

The Director-General’s message also stated that the concept of the mother tongue complements UNESCO’s multilingual education system, which aims to promote and improve proficiency in at least three languages: the mother tongue, the national language, and a foreign language.

Dr. Faridun Rahmani: Sociologist and Chairman of the Board at the "Kurdish House" in Toronto

"Speaking in One's Mother Tongue is a Human Right and Democracy"

In the next part of the program, Dr. Fereydoun Rahmani, a sociologist and the Chair of the Kurdish House in Toronto, discussed the importance of the mother tongue from a sociological perspective. Under the title “Mother Tongue, Democracy, and Democratic Culture,” he stated:

"The relationship between democracy and language can be examined in two aspects: one could be termed the legal dimension, and the other the socio-political dimension.

"From a legal standpoint, if we accept that the mother tongue is a right, that individuals should be able to use it as a fundamental right and speak in their native language, and if we also understand democracy as a collection of human rights forming its foundation, then speaking in one's mother tongue is indeed a human right and a form of democracy.

"From a socio-political perspective, if we agree that democracy involves people’s participation in determining their own fate and in decision-making, most legal scholars, sociologists, and researchers believe that to enhance democracy, we must increase free and informed political and social engagement. This is where the relationship between democracy and the mother tongue becomes clear.

"In a country like Iran, to enable all national groups to actively participate in deciding their fate, in political decision-making, and in gaining awareness of political issues, the only way forward is to provide opportunities for political and social discussions in the primary language people feel most comfortable with."

Dr. Abbas Azadian, a well-known psychotherapist in the Iranian community in Canada - Photos by Mohammad Taj-Doulati

"There are 5,000 to 6,000 Languages in the World"

Dr. Abbas Azadian, a well-known psychotherapist in the Canadian Iranian community, was another speaker at the event. He delivered a simple and accessible talk under the title "Personality and Access to the Mother Tongue: Its Role and Importance," discussing the impact of the mother tongue from the earliest weeks and months of a child’s life. Dr. Abbas Azadian noted:

"Currently, there are about 5,000 to 6,000 languages in the world, 90 percent of which are on the verge of extinction, with around 12 languages disappearing each year. Of all the world’s languages, between 20 and 50 percent are not in daily use.

"When the impact of languages on each other was studied, English was identified as the primary aggressor and culprit. In 90 percent of cases where English interacts with other languages, those languages eventually disappear. French, by comparison, is milder; around 50 percent of languages interacting with French eventually disappear. We have no data regarding Persian.

"But the main point is that languages are disappearing, and this affects personal growth, individual development, and one’s position in society."

After providing a comprehensive review of various theories on the influence of the mother tongue on personality development, Dr. Abbas Azadian concluded:

"A person's character grows within language; it develops in the emotional connections formed with others; it grows through the meaning established between the individual and others in their environment. When access to language is lost, that meaning, self-understanding, understanding of others, and understanding of the world are disrupted, resulting in emotional, psychological, and personality issues.

"For this reason, it is essential for an individual to have access to the language in which they were raised—their mother tongue. Naturally, this does not negate the value of learning other languages; people can learn additional languages.

"Children under the age of 13 can learn new languages extremely quickly. One psychologist even claimed that a child under one year old, if exposed to various languages, could easily learn up to 11 languages.

"I’m not sure how exaggerated this claim may be, and it’s difficult to provide a definitive opinion on it, but the main point is that access to the mother tongue is critically important for personality development."

Dr. Reza Baraheni, writer, poet, and former president of PEN Canada

Dr. Reza Baraheni, Writer, Poet, and Former President of PEN Canada, Speaks on the Importance of the Mother Tongue

Dr. Baraheni, who has emphasized the significance of the mother tongue throughout his literary works, began his speech by referring to one of his writings from the 1960s:

"In 1963 or 1964, I used two words that later played a crucial role in my life as a writer; these two words were 'Masculine History.' Later, I wrote a 100-page article titled 'Masculine History: An Essay on the Causes of Cultural Fragmentation in Iran,' which was published in the latter half of that decade.

"Although I discussed masculine history, the main point wasn't just what masculine history is. This was already evident, as we could see that, throughout history, men continually assumed decisive roles, clashed with each other, and were constantly embroiled in conflict. They shaped the face of history, often as if women were merely tools, erased, or as if another mechanism was needed to reveal women's essential role.

"When we move beyond the purely masculine conflicts of history to explore the role of women, even if we do not fully acknowledge that this primary role might indeed belong to women, we enter two realms: the realm of the mother and the realm of pleasure.

"Language exists in the space between these two realms. In that space, we might have erased the mother—meaning we might have erased language. But we know that if there were no mother, there would be no language, no narrative, and no pleasure, which sometimes comes with the struggle between life and death."

Dr. Baraheni then discussed the importance of the mother tongue for the heroes of the "Rostam and Sohrab" story from Ferdowsi's Shahnameh. He referenced the battles between Iranians and Turanians, the different languages of these two nations, the relationship between Rostam and Tahmineh, the birth of Sohrab, and how Sohrab’s mother passed on Rostam's identity and personality in a language other than Persian:

"Despite its tragic nature, the story is deeply pleasurable. Something greater—an infinitely more significant narrative than Rostam and Sohrab themselves—governs the story. We derive pleasure from the language, regardless of whether it’s Turanian or Iranian. Behind this language, and the story narrated within it, stands a figure who is both Rostam’s and Sohrab’s mother, regardless of the language’s ethnic origin.

"This language is purely language, independent of its type—whether it’s Persian, Turanian, or Turkish—and it is the language taught to Ferdowsi, Rostam, Sohrab, and every poet by that very figure. This is the language that every mother teaches to every child from any ethnicity, a language imbued with love and pleasure. Without this nurturing, this story would not have been told as it is."

"This language, separate from its Persian or, hypothetically, Turkish origin, is a language that, despite expressing tragedy, establishes a unique bond with the reader and listener. It comes from a place where language is maternal. It’s the passion and pleasure of the mother’s language that Ferdowsi conveys to us."

Dr. Baraheni continued by discussing his own creation of two terms, “zabaniyat” (linguality) and “umiyyat” (maternal essence), and the concepts these terms represent in understanding literature and the importance of language. Following his literary analysis of the mother tongue's significance, he directed his remarks at current Iranian leaders who, as he noted, prevent some of the population from learning their mother tongue:

"I want to openly state that if those who prohibit people from learning their mother tongue today understood that if, during the advent of Islam and the Prophet’s time, there had been those who banned the Arabic language, countless difficulties could have arisen. My point is that the mother tongue is sacred—not in a theological sense, nor merely as a language of the divine, but also as the language of imperfect human beings.

"Although the era of prophecy has ended and the Prophet of Islam is the Seal of the Prophets, the end of mother tongues and languages has not come. Imagine if, in the Arabian Peninsula during the Prophet’s time, some individuals who didn’t understand language had ruled and had entirely eradicated the Arabic language, prohibiting the Prophet’s words from being recorded.

"Indeed, this is a distant analogy, as no language should be compared to the language of the Quran, and no book should be compared to the Quran. I openly acknowledge that, in my opinion, the Quran has been one of the most influential books for millions worldwide, especially in Arab, Turkish, Persian literature, and numerous other languages and regions.

"A vast number of people affirm that the Quran is among the most impactful books in global culture, particularly for much of Asia and Africa.

"While this comparison may be far-fetched, imagine if someone in the Prophet’s era had suddenly emerged and banned Arabic. I firmly state that the global community would have been deprived of a book that is one of the world’s most influential works. At the very least, all the articles, philosophies, and cultures fostered under its influence would not have come into being."

"Why Do You Consider Learning the Mother Tongue a Betrayal to the Country?"

The former President of PEN Canada concluded his speech by saying:

"It is not only prophets who have been sent to their own communities, tribes, and in their mother tongue. Although the era of prophethood has ended, imagine if Rumi’s father had not taken him from Balkh, traveling through what was then Iran and much of the Arab lands, and if Rumi had not eventually settled in Konya, where everyone was Turkish, and if Persian had been banned there.

"Or imagine in Fars, where Turks ruled for long periods, if Persian had been forbidden—would Saadi or Hafez exist today? And if Sultan Mahmud had tried to impose his mother tongue across all of Iran, would we have Khorasani poetry?

"Perhaps these religious and literary figures were fortunate in some way or another… But can we accept in our time—an era where democracy is claimed worldwide—that two-thirds of Iran’s population are born with mother tongues other than Persian, yet only one official language is recognized?

"A mother speaks to her child in her own language, and the child should face the world with their mother tongue. Discovering language is discovering the affection and kindness of a mother. I use the term 'Umiyyat'—which even Dehkhoda’s dictionary lacks—to convey this meaning.

"I see the mother’s language as the foundation of how language, in general, takes root in the human mind. The scent of language, the scent of a mother, is indeed the scent of a mother’s milk…

"You have silenced women’s language; that is, two-thirds of the country’s women do not speak Persian as their mother tongue, and you force their children, after schooling, to become strangers to them. Why should they envy those across the borders? Why have you hidden the women’s language, which is the mother tongue of so many sons and daughters of this country? Why do you consider learning and promoting mother tongues, other than Persian, a betrayal of the country and the homeland of all people?

"What kind of academy have you created, where there are even four or five Azerbaijani members who happen to speak Persian with a lovely Azerbaijani accent, yet they’re not allowed to speak Turkish there? Imagine that even the four or five members of this Academy, presided over by Mr. Khamenei, are not permitted to use their mother tongue there—or the very language of Mr. Khamenei’s own father!"

Link to the original text in Farsi: https://zamaaneh.com/canada/2010/03/post_199.html