The International Mother Language Day event was held at the University of Guyana. The welcome and opening remarks were made by Mr. Trevon Baird. The theme for International Mother Language Day 2023 was “Multilingual Education: a necessity to transform education,” Dr. Deirdre Jafferally told the audience.
There was a video presentation in which persons of various ethnicities introduced themselves in different languages, such as Patamuna, German, French, English, Kreyòl, Jamaican Patois, Lokojan and Spanish, plus as a video welcoming actor Letitia Wright on her visit back to Guyana.
Presenters included speakers of the different mother languages of Guyana such as Akawaio, Arecuna, Carib, Creolese, English, Arawak, Makushi, Patamuna, Wapichan, Wai Wai and Warrau. Mention was also made of Falmouth Sign Language, Taruma and Atorada. Many of the Indigenous speakers said their language is their identity and when native speakers pass away the language is at risk of dying, so whatever they have learnt they want to transmit to their children for the language to remain alive.
Another speaker called for Guyanese creole to be an official language. An Indigenous male singer also sang a wonderful song, “Cassava is Richness”, and the Vice Chancellor Ms. Paloma Mohamed spoke about Ms. Charlene Wilkinson’s passion for the development of languages.
This blog was written as part of an assignment for Use of English, a module within the Department of Foundation and Education Management at the University of Guyana.
The Guyanese Languages Unit 