TwoCents | Love and Respect Your Mother Tongue.

Speaking more than one language is more than just an asset, it can also be a way to connect to your culture, family , and homeland , and a way to meld different facets of your identity . Today, February 21 is International Mother language day and it is a global initiative to promote linguistics and cultural diversity. The Theme is "Multilingual Education- a pillar of learning and Intergenerational learning". This contributes to the overall development and empowerment of communities across the continent. Around 40% of all languages have less than 1000 speakers, and they are not part of any school curriculum and around 40% of the global population lacks access to education in their native language , with certain countries experiencing rates exceeding 90%. 2008 was declared the International Year of Languages , promoting unity through multilingualism. Mother Tongue refers to the first language a person learns and speaks from birth or early childhood . Mother Tongue plays a significant role in shaping one's cultural identity and sense of belonging. +7000 languages exist in the world and Africa is home to over 2000 different languages, many of which are at risk of becoming extinct due to various factors such as globalization and urbanization. There are 2, 294 different languages registered in Asia, in America , people speak 1,061 different languages and 1313 in the pacific. Preserving and promoting African languages through AI or mobile Apps is one of the ways that can help safeguard cultural heritage , foster a sense of pride and identity among speakers , and facilitate communication and knowledge sharing within communities. Embracing linguistic diversity is an essential step towards achieving the SDG4 (Sustainable Development Goals) and creating a more sustainable and inclusive world for all. Are you a Nativespeaker, Developer or Copywriter? You could volunteer and build Africa's most inclusive Language app. Yes, you can! Celebrating International Mother Language Day - a reminder that in our multicultural world, diversity is our strength. Lets cherish and share our Mother Tongues, no matter where in the world we live ; to create a rich tapestry of languages for future generations. What is your Mother Tongue and what other languages do you speak?? You can also share your favorite phrase in your Mother Tongue , with an English translation if possible in the comment section below .

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