The United Nations declared , on November st
17 , 1999 , that the 21 of February be observed as the International Mother Language day . The first observation took place in the year 2000 , and has been celebrated annually since then , with different themes each year . The main aim of observing this day is to participate in events that promote linguistic and cultural diversity , and to encourage people to maintain their knowledge of their mother tongue while learning and using more than one language . Language is and will always be the root through which every culture receives all the nurturing it deservestoflourish . Indigenous languages have been used for years by communities as modes of communication and developing systems of understanding , delivering , as well as interpreting messages , teaching and imparting knowledge and wisdom from generation to generation , communicating with ancestors , praising and showing respect . Language is more than speech ; it is inclusive of gestures , writings , song , etc . Different cultures have different gestures t h a t c a r r y m e a n i n g w h e n e i t h e r accompanying speech or not . Language and culture cannot exist without one another . As such , when a language is silenced , a significant amount of loss of knowledge about the norms and values a culture subscribes to occurs to the
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community , and next generations suffer because the death of language is the death of the primary vehicle of cultural maintenance , promotion , preservation and transmission . The strong preference for English language over African indigenous languages within the South African community in all sectors of the society is a great threat to the tapestry of the rich cultures and heritages that our diverse languages represent . The imposition of Afrikaans and English languages on Africans by colonialists has played a role in encouraging this preference .
But although colonisation has played its role , we , as Africans also have a role to play in taking pride in and promoting our diverse culture rich languages . It has become a norm in our societies , especially on social media , to make mockery of black people who struggle to speak English properly ; and applaud thosewho excel at spitting good English , and at the same time frown upon those who prefer to speak their indigenous languages .
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