19.02.2009 International Mother Language Day

Saturday, 21 February, will mark the 10^th International Mother Language Day, which was established by UNESCO to celebrate linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. Another aim is to raise awareness about linguistic and cultural traditions.

Research has shown that more than half of the world’s 6,000 languages are – to varying degrees – facing the threat of disappearing. A quarter of the world’s languages are now spoken by fewer than 1,000. European languages considered endangered include Aragonese (northern Spain) and Kashubian (northern Poland). The latest edition of the UNESCO Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger of Disappearing will be presented in observance of this year’s International Mother Language Day.