Language in South Africa has been at the top of its diversity and multiculturalism.
The country has twelve official languages, to preserve the linguistic diversity as well as protect those that were marginalized during the apartheid regime.
This year’s Mother Language Day is observed under the theme “Make Languages Count for Sustainable Development.”
According to some reports, the idea to celebrate this day was led by Bangladesh and was then approved at the UNESCO General Conference back in 1999.
International Mother Language Day has since been recognised globally from 2000.
The day aims to among others, build strong foundations for children’s cognitive development as well as to promote and preserve all languages.
Among other stakeholders who commemorated the day was the Department of Basic Education (DBE), which sought to reaffirm its commitment to ensure Mother Tongue-based Bilingual Education (MTbBE).
“Languages are a vital part of who we are, shaping the way we think, learn and interact with the world.
This year, as we celebrate 25 years of International Mother Language Day, we commit to supporting multilingualism in our education system.
The rollout of MTbBE from grade 4 is a significant step in creating an inclusive environment where learners are empowered to succeed in their education while preserving their cultural heritage,” read a statement from DBE.
Furthermore, the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) CEO, Lance Schultz called for initiatives and training that’ll be directed towards protecting African languages amid technological developments.
He emphasized the importance of accurate translations on platforms like Google amongst others.
Some of the recommended tools to celebrate and actively safeguard Mother Languages include the frequent use of the language at home and advocacy for inclusion in education systems
