UNESCO proclaimed International Mother Language Day (IMLD) in 1999 to celebrate and protect the diverse languages of the world. IMLD represents an effort to honor people’s right to speak their mother tongues, to preserve their culture and identity, and to safeguard the many endangered languages of the world. In more specific terms, it is also a tribute to the sacrifices of many in the movement for the preservation of the Bengali language in Bangladesh. Since 2000, IMLD has been celebrated around the world as well as in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. Every year IMLD is celebrated at CISAR with multilingual presentations, performances, and multicultural festivities, representing diverse languages from around the world.
Every year IMLD is celebrated at CISAR with multilingual presentations, performances, representing diverse languages from around the world. This year’s programming includes welcome remarks by President Ono, presentations about local and global language issues with scholars, teachers, and activists, and a facilitated discussion around language and identity.
Co-sponsored by Project Kavi, UBC Asian Studies, UBC Centre for Korean Research, UBC Centre for Community Engaged Learning, UBC Centre for Chinese Research, UBC Department of Central, Eastern and Northern European Studies, and UBC Bangladeshi Students Association.
Please RSVP to register for the event. Refreshments will be served.
