The event held on the 21st of February in observance of International Mother Language Day primarily focused on promoting the awareness and importance of linguistic and cultural diversity, which coincides with this year’s theme “multilingual education – a necessity to transform education.”
It was evident that every opportunity was taken to not only sensitize the public on the importance of our mother languages but to also advocate for the government to recognize that to honor our people and preserve our people they must bring those languages into school.
Speakers from across Guyana shared their mother-tongue languages and culture in an effort to pass on and preserve these languages, which are their identity. The event also brought awareness to linguistic ethics in relation to politics, education, Indigenous rights, and cultural preservation, which seems to be drifting away. It was about celebrating all languages.
Art and crafts were also displayed in aid of keeping in tune with our cultures. It was a very interesting and meaningful event that put a smile on everyone’s face that was the recipient of the information passed on. Our mother tongues are our own, they are our identity, our culture, and our first language, which should always be preserved and seen as a right to speak and a right to be respected in every part of our country.
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 