February 21st: “International Mother Language Day”

(Farsi Level: C1)

February 21st is officially recognized as International Mother Language Day by the United Nations, following a proclamation by UNESCO in 1999. UNESCO has designated February 21st as International Mother Language Day to highlight the importance of linguistic and cultural diversity and to encourage the preservation of all languages. The initiative promotes the usage of mother tongues in education and public life, ensuring that linguistic heritage remains alive for future generations.
Protecting languages and linguistic diversity is essential for preserving the cultural heritage, identity, and history of nations, ensuring that traditions and knowledge are passed down through generations.

Iran is a linguistically diverse country with several languages spoken alongside Persian as the official language, including different Turkic dialects, Gilaki, Mazandarani, Lori, Arabic, Baluchi, and many other minority endangered languages such as Tati, Assyrian, and Laki. Therefore, celebrating International Mother Language Day holds great importance in Iran, as it acknowledges and honors the country’s rich linguistic diversity.

At Farsimonde, we are celebrating International Mother Language Day by launching a project that invites people to share the unique things they can do in their mother tongue, highlighting its pivotal role in shaping their identity. We encourage everyone to read about the significance of this day, watch the video on our YouTube channel, and share their feelings and experiences regarding their mother language.

The Deep Connection Between Language and Emotion

Our mother tongue is deeply tied to our emotions. Hearing emotional words in our native language often stirs a more profound response than the exact words in a foreign tongue. This strong reaction comes from the rich tapestry of memories and feelings we have woven with our first language throughout our lives. Isn’t it amazing how deeply our native language is tied to our experiences, making our emotions feel more real and natural?

Inner Speech: The Voice That Always Stays with Us

No matter our circumstances or level of education, we all speak to ourselves in solitude. When something wounds our soul, we retreat inward, much like a cat quietly tending to its wounds. Through inner speech, we comfort ourselves—whether with kindness or self-criticism. This internal dialogue brings a sense of security. Even when we try to reshape it—to make it more positive, nurturing, or constructive—we naturally do so in the language that feels most intimate and familiar to us: our mother tongue.

Inner Speech: The Voice That Always Stays with Us

Our mother tongue is deeply tied to our emotions. Hearing emotional words in our native language often stirs a more profound response than the exact words in a foreign tongue. This strong reaction comes from the rich tapestry of memories and feelings we have woven with our first language throughout our lives. Isn’t it amazing how deeply our native language is tied to our experiences, making our emotions feel more real and natural?

A Language That Holds Culture and Identity

Our mother tongue is more than just a means of communication; it carries the culture, history, and worldview of those who came before us. Within every language, stories, proverbs, poetry, and folklore preserve the spirit of the people who have spoken it for generations. Language is a living heritage that deserves to be cherished and passed on.

What Can You Do Only in Your Mother Tongue?

Our mother tongue is an essential part of who we are, allowing us to do certain things in a way no other language can. It is the language in which we instinctively cry out in moments of intense pain, like during childbirth. It is the language we use to express the deepest emotions and childhood memories that no other words can fully capture. And when we comfort and cherish our children, we often do so in the language that once nurtured us.

Because of this serious connection, the right to learn and express ourselves in our mother tongue is more than just a privilege—it is a fundamental right. The United Nations recognizes that every person should have access to education in their native language, as it is the language through which they first understood the world. Language shapes the way we think, who we are, and how we belong in the world, making the right to speak and learn in our mother tongue a fundamental part of human dignity.
Have you ever thought about what you can do only in your native language? If you are interested in FarsiMonde’s project in celebrating “Mother Language Day” contact our Persian teachers or our team to narrate your stories of your experiences with your mother tongue.