Mother tongue is the soul of the people

Every year on February 21, we celebrate International Mother Language Day – a holiday that unites us in love for the word, for our cultural heritage. This is a day when we remember with special respect the importance of language in the life of every person, every nation.

The history of this day begins with the tragic events of 1952 in Bangladesh, when students went on a protest, defending the right to speak their native Bengali language. This heroic act became a symbol of the struggle for freedom of speech, for the right to self-expression. In 1999, UNESCO, honoring the memory of these events, proclaimed February 21 International Mother Language Day.

For Ukraine, this holiday is of special importance. Our language is not just a means of communication, it is our history, our culture, our identity. The Ukrainian language has come a long and thorny path, experiencing oppression and prohibitions, but it has survived, preserved its beauty and uniqueness.

In Ukraine, International Mother Language Day is celebrated with various events: literary readings, language competitions, scientific conferences, and cultural festivals. On this day, we talk about the importance of preserving and developing the Ukrainian language, about its role in the formation of national consciousness.

At the initiative of the head of the Department of Social Sciences, Olha Sikorska, the teachers of the department have planned a number of educational events: conversations, interactive games, language and cultural discussions, speeches, and an essay competition.