February 21st is International Mother Language Day
Language is more than an aid in communication. It is shared culture, memories, identity, traditions, etc. Learning a foreign language is more than just vocabulary and grammar but learning a whole new way of thinking. It is what makes translators and interpreters so valuable. They are able to translate meaning between cultures and promote understanding between different peoples.
Globalization has streamlined a handful of languages and made it possible for a variety of people to understand each other without the aid of linguists.
But with a push to speak the few major languages of the world, there are less and less speakers of local languages and dialects. And with each language lost, a unique way of looking at the world is lost as well.
The UN estimates that about 43% of the world’s 6000 spoken languages are endangered!
This is why International Mother Language Day has been observed every year since 2000 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.
So today,
let’s
celebrate
our
diverse
linguistic
heritages!
And if you need help in reaching out to someone who doesn’t share your linguistic background, our translators and interpreters are here to help you along the way.
