Happy International Mother Language Day (Ekushey February)

Global linguistic crisis refers to the rapid decline in the number of languages spoken worldwide, with many facing extinction. Approximately 40% of the world's 7,000 languages are endangered, and it's estimated that half could disappear by the end of the century. (WeForum)

Let us ALL recommit to preserving language diversity as it is threatened by globalization and climate change. This is a great opportunity to celebrate the International Mother Language Day on February 21st.

🇧🇩 Ekushey February: A Symbol of Sacrifice & Pride 🇧🇩

"Ekushey February is not just a date; it is the heartbeat of a nation that fought for its language."

February 21, known as Ekushey February, stands as a testament to the indomitable spirit of the Bengali people. On this day in 1952, brave souls like Salam, Barkat, Rafiq, and Jabbar sacrificed their lives to establish Bengali as the state language of East Pakistan. Their blood paved the way for a stronger national identity and eventually played a crucial role in Bangladesh’s independence.

📌 Why is Ekushey February Important?

🔹 Martyrs' Sacrifice: A day to remember those who laid down their lives for our mother tongue.

🔹 Birth of Nationalism: The language movement ignited the flame of independence in the hearts of Bengalis.

🔹 Cultural Heritage: A reminder of our rich linguistic and cultural history.

📌 Our Responsibilities

✅ Preserving Our Language: Speak, write, and uphold the purity of Bengali with pride.

✅ Honoring the Martyrs: Educate future generations about the significance of Ekushey February.

✅ Promoting Unity: Stand together to protect the rights of languages and cultures worldwide.

🌿 Ekushey February is not just about remembering the past; it’s about carrying forward the legacy of our heroes. Let’s cherish our language and embrace our identity with pride.

#EkusheyFebruary | #LanguageMovement | #ProudToBeBengali

Source: CARO

Circa 2015. Wifey and I at Shaheed Minar in Dhaka.

Amar Mayer Rokte Rangano, Ekushey February..Ami ki bhulite pari..

Our Cornell BSA Produced this back in 2007 as part of Ekushey February (21st February) thanks to good friends Jayan and Suravi

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eYk_SKhP9A&t=9s

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDRI8__MRnc

Visual Showing World Languages are related.

Which language is considered the oldest language in the world?

Earliest Written Languages:

Sumerian: One of the earliest known written languages, Sumerian was used in ancient Mesopotamia. Its cuneiform script dates back to approximately 2600 BC.scientificamerican.com
Egyptian: Hieroglyphic inscriptions in Egypt have been found from around 2690 BC, making it one of the oldest written languages. dynamiclanguage.com
Akkadian: Another ancient language from Mesopotamia, Akkadian's written records also date back to around 2600 BC. scientificamerican.com

Oldest Continuously Spoken Languages:

Tamil: Part of the Dravidian language family, Tamil has been spoken for over 5,000 years and remains widely used today, particularly in southern India and Sri Lanka. timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Greek: With written records dating back to around 1450 BC, Greek has evolved but continues to be spoken in modern times. blog.busuu.com
Chinese: The Chinese language boasts a continuous written tradition spanning approximately 3,600 years, with oracle bone inscriptions dating back to the Shang dynasty. studyinternational.com

Are you as fascinated by the origin and evolution of languages as I am? Where do you see the future of LLM (Large Language Models) and how do you think we can better protect languages?