The “International Mother Language Day” on 21 February is dedicated to the significance of language diversity. Initiated by the UN organization UNESCO, …

… the commemoration day was first celebrated in the year 2000. The International Mother Language Day’s goal is to pay tribute to minority languages, raise awareness of languages and linguistic diversity, and promote foreign language learning.

Did you know that …

  • there are about 6,500 different living languages in the world today?
  • one half to two thirds of all existing languages are threatened with extinction?
  • the International Mother Language Day of 2005 was dedicated to the sign and Braille languages?
  • 2008 was the “International Year of Languages” of the United Nations?
  • the 26th February is the “European Day of Languages” initiated by the European Council?

English, Spanish and German as mother languages

Being universal languages, English, Spanish and German rank among the languages with the highest number of native speakers:

  • English: about 330 million native speakers
  • Spanish: about 427 million native speakers
  • German: about 90-100 million native speakers

Additionally, there is high number of second and foreign language speakers, particularly in the case of English and Spanish.

Source: Wikipedia