18 February 2015

“The 21 February 2015 yet again marks the day the world celebrates the International Mother Language Day (IMLD).  This is a day on which we pursue to remind ourselves of the painful battles fought by the nations of the world in asserting the promotions of their languages as they define who they are.

Just as the youth of Bangladesh fought tooth and nail against the marginalization of their language Bangali, in South Africa we have gone through the same process with resulted in the June 1976 uprising.

This annual event is observed to promote linguistic, cultural diversity, multilingual education, and most importantly develop the awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions all over the world, thereby inspiring international solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue by millions of people across the globe.

Under the theme “Inclusion in and through education: language counts” The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) will stage various campaigns through its provincial offices to support and honour this important day across the country.

“It is significant that we honour this day because language is much more than just a means of communication.  Languages are the most powerful instrument of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage” said the chairperson of PanSALB, Professor Mbulungeni Madiba.

“It is therefore in this day where as human being we need to claim and nurture our unique heritage through languages as the most powerful foundation of who we are” added Professor Madiba.

In support of the International Mother Language Day, PanSALB will also be running a selfie competition using its social media (# LanguageCounts) where individuals are encouraged to relate their good language stories through pictures, video clips as well in 150 words. The best stories will win selfie stickers. 

Interested participants can post their selfies on our twitter account: @PanSALB or via our Facebook page: Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB)

For more information on our activities around the country, please click here