Kazakhstan Joins UNESCO's Mother Tongue Day Celebrations
Kazakhstan Advocates for Multilingualism and Linguistic Diversity at UNESCO
Astana, Kazakhstan - Kazakhstan's permanent delegation to UNESCO participated in the International Mother Language Day celebrations held at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on February 21.
The event featured panel discussions among academics, international organizations, non-governmental entities, and diplomatic corps, focusing on the protection and promotion of multilingualism, the status of endangered languages, and challenges in multilingual education across various countries.
Askar Abdrakhmanov, Kazakhstan's permanent representative to UNESCO, showcased the nation's commitment to fostering the growth of the state Kazakh language, particularly in the digital and AI realm. According to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry's press service, Abdrakhmanov stressed that Kazakhstan guarantees the learning and use of mother tongues for diverse ethnic communities within the country, alongside the Kazakh language. This support is extended to educational institutions, media outlets, theaters, and cultural associations.
The significance of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan was also highlighted by Abdrakhmanov, as it marks its 30th anniversary this year and plays a critical role in maintaining interethnic harmony within the country.
Aigerim Yersainova, a Kazakh musician, graced the event with a mesmerizing performance on the kobyz, playing a composition attributed to Korkyt Ata, a legendary sage and musician whose legacy is recognized on UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The events at UNESCO underscored the importance of safeguarding mother languages and cultural diversity, pivotal factors in nurturing peace and mutual respect among diverse populations.
Kazakhstan's educational and cultural policies, while not explicitly addressed in the context of International Mother Language Day discussions, could be perceived as promoting multilingualism. However, specific initiatives geared towards endangered language protection within this context require further details to be substantiated.
In the context of UNESCO's International Mother Language Day celebrations, Kazakhstan's commitment to multilingualism can be observed not only in the promotion of the state Kazakh language but also in its support for the learning and use of mother tongues among diverse ethnic communities. This multilingual approach is reflected in educational institutions, media outlets, theaters, and cultural associations within Kazakhstan. Furthermore, Kazakhstan's emphasis on the preservation of cultural diversity, as demonstrated in the 30th anniversary celebration of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, contributes to the global dialogue on education-and-self-development, general-news, and lifestyle, emphasizing the significance of linguistic diversity and cultural heritage.
