Let's Promote Mother Tongue Language

            Language is considered to be the medium of exchanging ideas, thoughts with one another. It plays a vital role in humans' lives for daily communication. It is said that a nation will be recognized by its language and culture. It is the main identification of the people. As we know that the day of International Mother Tongue Language Day is observed every year on February 21. The purpose of celebrating this special day is to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and to encourage multilingualism (speak and understand several languages). On the other side, there are several languages in the world which are dominant over one another. It is said that if you want to destroy a nation, then disappear its native language, then it will be lost forever. It is the most important part of human beings who express their feelings and maintain the conversation. Preserving and promoting the mother tongue language is too important to be recognized among the nation. Dr. Naguman, a well-known Baloch writer and linguist, once expressed the importance of native language as he narrates that:

" زُبان ماڈی یے ءُ لَبز آئیءِ ھِشتاں۔ اگاں تو لوٹے کہ ماڑیءَ ھِچ مہ بیت، گُڑا ھِشتاں مُھر کن" (language is like a building and words are its bricks. If you wish to preserve the house, then    make strong the bricks) 

            Besides, reading and writing are two valuable things that help us to protect our mother tongue language significantly. Because these are both important to be practiced one is literature. In other words, International Mother Tongue Language Day was declared by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in November 1999. For the celebrating this special event, where the UN General Assembly accepted the proclamation of the day in its answer or resolution of 2002. On this special occasion, every nation raises its ideas regarding languages. Language is the main source to make friendship with others in which the people communicate to be identified to each other. By educating the children about their mother tongue language, they could be able to understand the materials in the best way. Being a speaker of the Balochi language, I mostly observe that in our surroundings when we start speaking to each other, then do not speak pure Balochi. We mix (also known as code-mixing) Urdu or English words our conversation which affects our culture or language badly. It is true that when someone lives together, then their communication affects each other. They use both languages' words. But it is too important to practice your own language to preserve the culture. As well as the famous Baloch writer Syed Zahoor Shah Hashmi writes about the value of the Balochi language " Read Balochi and write Balochi. Because Balochi is our sweet language." In addition, in school, their children are also not taught the Balochi language entirely due to the ignorance of the government.

            Many researchers believe that children who can understand and speak their mother language fluently are able to develop their cognitive skills. *" I am always sorry when any language is lost because languages are the pedigrees of nations"* Samuel Johnson explained. It means that mother tongue language for a child involves more than just language and includes the children's personal l, social and cultural identity.  Moreover, languages are representative of one's history and culture who use them in the field of everyday communication. As Samuel Johnson narrates beautifully " Language is the dress of thought." It clarifies that without language one can't be able to express his thought. And it must be your native language. " The aim of conducting International Mother Tongue Language Day is a moment for all of us to raise the flag for the all educational efforts, to enhance the equality of learning and to reach the unreached" Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General addresses. It is mentioned that without teaching the mother tongue language at educational institutions, no one can develop and it should be taught everywhere to educate the children for their betterment. According to a recent report, every two weeks a language disappears with its entire cultural and intellectual heritage. Another statement, a researcher claimed about the languages that at least 43 percent of the estimated 600 languages spoken in the world are endangered. On the other hand, in Pakistan, it is said that Urdu is our National Language but is not being practiced or communicated positively. Whenever the leaders start speaking, then one can observe that their language is full of English words instead of choosing Urdu words. It is said that a nation is nothing without knowing its native language. We must speak our mother tongue language and spread awareness about it as well as teach our children to be passionate about to be connected with their culture, civilization, and literature.

Additionally, a renowned writer, poetess illustrated amazingly about the value of language as:

  

 

By: Nawaz Nigwari

The writer is a post-graduate student from the English Department University of Turbat

Bal Nigwar, Kech Balochistan