A language is the reflection of a social group's heritage, culture and idiosyncrasy. English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Japanese, French, Hindi, Russian, Chinese, what they all have in common? Well, at first sight, they gather millions of native speakers across the world. More importantly, the fact that they represent the special identity of those native speakers.
Each one of the mentioned languages is able to provide the right tools, to their respective users, so they can express their ideas, needs, priorities, and common decisions in the ways that suit them best.
The International Mother Language Day (IMLD) is a global festivity that is celebrated each year on February 21. On that particular day, the world commemorates the globalization. It is the festivity when people acknowledge the different rich cultures that exist in every corner of the world -with their respective mother tongues- and the lifetime experience that is to learn a new language just as a native speaker.
Whereas, according to the United Nations, almost half (43 per cent) of the total of existent languages that are spoken in the world are under risk of disappearing. That is the reason why, on this day, people all over the planet should understand the value of all languages in the globalization, education, debate, and linguistic exchange processes.
A tradition that started in Bangladesh, now is a global festivity with the backup of institutions as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the United Nations (UN).
The importance behind the International Mother Language Day is that it fosters the empathy, respect, stability, and coherence within social groups and among different societies starting by the acceptance of another language.
In a globalized world, where businesses are always trying to get a predominant spot on their respective markets, knowing different languages is a sure bet and an advantage, particularly if you're a CEO or a market strategist.
There are infinite necessities and desires out there that need to be attended; many international niches markets, not to mention the numerous mass markets that require to be analyzed and provided with relevant solutions. In order to satisfy their specific requests, it is crucial to master several languages, just as a native speaker.
Being a multilingual businessperson is the first step to build a successful brand with influence beyond national borders.
