Labour MSP Foysol Choudhury has this week given a speech at an International Mother Language Day event in Edinburgh City Chambers, highlighting the importance of language learning education and calling for more investment and partnership work to deliver the Gaelic Language Plan.
International Mother Language Day, proposed by Bangladesh and memorialised by UNESCO on 21st February each year, focuses on promoting linguistic diversity and the importance of sharing our differences in culture and languages to foster tolerance and respect in our multi-cultural communities.
The initiative is significant in preserving heritage through language and maintaining multilingual education policies to promote lifelong learning of languages.
This year, the Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council (ELREC) in partnership with The City of Edinburgh Council, Thistleshapla Cultural Group and Heriot-Watt University celebrated International Mother Language Day in the City Chambers in Edinburgh.
Foysol Choudhury MSP, Scottish Labour’s Spokesperson on Culture, attended this event and afterwards commented: “Language is important for culture, it is a medium though which culture is learned, appreciated, preserved and celebrated.
“It is important to celebrate this day to understand the significance of mother language which not only keeps us connected to our own culture but also allows sharing of knowledge and culture among different communities.
“This sharing of culture and language makes us more tolerant, understanding and helps us to build a more diverse and multicultural society.
“For the past few years the community has been asking for a permanent monument to commemorate International Mother Language Day and all those who have fought to preserve their right to speak their mother tongue-I’ll continue to support them in pursuing this.”
Mr Choudhury further highlighted the importance of language learning in Scotland: “It is important that children are given the opportunity to learn their mother languages at a young age, to allow them to connect to their roots and preserve their heritage, values and traditions throughout generations.
“In Scotland we are sadly seeing low numbers of Gaelic speakers-we must see more investment and partnership work between Bòrd na Gàidhlig and local authorities to revitalise the Gaelic language plan, support the learning of Gaelic and promote it as a living language to encourage the youth to stay connected to the language for generations to come.”
MSP Choudhury has lodged a motion at the Scottish Parliament to celebrate International Mother Language Day 2024 and says he will continue to support the initiative, to encourage people to take pride in their mother language and learn other languages to support life-long learning and cohesion in our multi-cultural society.
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