Share the message from the UN Secretary General as we celebrated the 2014 International Mother Language Day yesterday, 21st February, 2014.
"International Mother Language Day celebrates linguistic and cultural diversity alongside multilingualism as a force for peace and sustainable development.
As we work towards achieving the
Millennium Development Goals while mapping out a post-2015 sustainable
development agenda, this diversity can encourage dialogue, mutual
understanding, innovation and creativity. This in turn can help us build more
just and inclusive societies. As the late President Nelson Mandela once said,
"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head.
If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart".
The theme of this year’s observance
spotlights the vital role of local languages in advancing science. This
will help ensure that the latest scientific knowledge is more widely
shared. At the same time, it will help deepen and enrich our global
knowledge base with more traditional but often overlooked scientific
wisdom.
Let us all join forces to promote
linguistic diversity and multilingualism as a key element in our efforts to
build a better world and a life of dignity for all."
Ban Ki-Moon.
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