International Mother Language Day: preserving the spoken languages on the planet
It is estimated that from 7,000 spoken languages throughout the world about half of them are at risk of disappearing
Jéssica Botelho
Friday | January 29, 2016 | 10:08 AM | Last update: September 22, 2016, 4:07 PM (Brasilia time)
February 21 is officially /observed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as the International Mother Language Day. With the aim of contributing towards the preservation of cultural diversity and the protection of the intangible heritage of Humanity, the date was proclaimed on November 17, 1999, and was formally acknowledged by the United Nations General Assembly during the 30th session of UNESCO General Conference.
The mother language is the first language we learn; the one we hear and develop within the environment where we were born, be it a country or a specific region.
Linguists and other social scientists have been emphasizing not only the important function of mother languages in the development of communication skills and in formulating concepts, but especially the role it plays as the first factor of cultural identity. The language is connected directly to the culture of a people. Even though it is an essential part of the living heritage of humanity, as defined by UNESCO, more than a half of about 7,000 existing languages are in danger of extinction.
The role of the Internet
If many speak of the dominance of the English language on the Internet, the UNESCO defends that the virtual world could in fact be a very important tool for the survival of these languages. This occurs through the information that is available about these languages and its history and vitality.
The Boa Vontade Portal, aligned with these ideas, makes it a point for its content on Solidary Citizenship and Unrestricted Ecumenism to be available in various languages, reaching the most diverse cultures and valuing their peoples. Without harming or ignoring that which each nation already experiences, the Portal of Ecumenical Spirituality* shares its experiences and values in each language, transmitting Good to all nations.
Since its beginning, by initiative of the late founder of the Legion of Good Will (LGW), Alziro Zarur, and later by the ongoing monitoring of the current President of the Organization, José de Paiva Netto, the LGW also identifies itself with the ideals of the most widely spoken constructed language in the world: Esperanto. Ludovic Lazarus Zamenhof, upon creating this language, stated that it should be the second language of all peoples and not a replacement of their mother languages.
For the LGW, to value the content that is transmitted in many diverse languages is what makes the difference in building a happier Humanity.
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*Ecumenical Spirituality — This banner of the Legion of Good Will is present in all its social and educational actions, because it is understood as “the cradle of the most generous values that are born of the Soul; the dwelling of the emotions and of the reasoning enlightened by intuition; the atmosphere that embraces everything that transcends the ordinary field of matter and comes from the elevated human sensitivity, such as Truth, Mercy, Morals, Ethics, Honesty, Generosity, and Brotherly Love.” Extract taken from the book É Urgente Reeducar! [It is Urgent to Re-educate!], which is the fundament of the LBV’s educational proposal, written by educator Paiva Netto, a best-selling author.
