Language is much more than a way of communicating with others. It is a part of our identity
culture, history, and emotional connection with our families. Our mother tongue is usually the
first language we hear and speak. Through it, we learn our first words, listen to stories, express
our feelings, and understand the traditions around us. Preserving our mother tongue is therefore
not simply about saving a language; it is about protecting the memories, knowledge, and cultural
identity carried by that language.
In today’s globalised world, languages such as English have become extremely important. They
provide opportunities for education, employment, travel, and international communication.
However, learning a global language should not mean abandoning our native language. A person
can learn English or other languages while continuing to value and use their mother tongue. In
fact, multilingualism can help people communicate with the wider world without losing their
connection to their roots.
Language and Identity
Our mother tongue is deeply connected to our identity. It carries the traditions, beliefs, humour,
expressions, songs, stories, and experiences of a community. Sometimes, a word or expression in
our native language can express an emotion or cultural idea more naturally than a translated
version.
UNESCO explains that language is closely connected to identity, dignity, participation, and
cultural diversity. Languages also help communities transmit experiences, traditions, and
knowledge from one generation to another.
When a language disappears, more than vocabulary is lost. Traditional stories, oral histories, folk
songs, local knowledge, and cultural practices may also become difficult for future generations
to understand. This makes language preservation an important part of preserving human heritage.
Mother Tongue and Education
The importance of the mother tongue is particularly clear in education. Children generally
understand new ideas more easily when they are introduced in a language they already know. If a
child has to learn both a new subject and an unfamiliar language at the same time, learning can
become unnecessarily difficult.UNICEF India reports that learning in the mother tongue can support cognitive development,
communication skills, confidence, and emotional connection with learning. It also explains that a
strong foundation in the first language can help children learn additional languages more
effectively.
This does not mean children should study only in their mother tongue. A multilingual approach
can provide the best of both worlds. Children can develop strong foundations in their familiar
language while gradually learning regional, national, and international languages.
UNESCO also supports mother-tongue-based multilingual education and notes that a large
number of learners worldwide do not have access to education in a language they understand
best.
Preserving Culture Through Language
Language acts as a bridge between generations. Think about a grandparent telling a traditional
story to a child. The story may contain lessons about kindness, courage, family, nature, or
community. It may also contain expressions that have been used for generations.
If younger people stop understanding their family's language, this connection can become
weaker. The stories may still exist, but their original meaning and emotional impact can be
difficult to preserve through translation.
Families therefore have an important role in language preservation. Parents and grandparents can
speak their native language at home, share traditional stories, teach songs and poems, and
encourage children to communicate with relatives in that language. Schools and communities
can support these efforts through cultural programmes, storytelling competitions, language clubs,
and local literature.
The Challenge of Globalisation
Globalisation has created many opportunities, but it has also created challenges for smaller
languages. Young people may sometimes believe that speaking a widely used language is more
useful or modern. As a result, families may gradually stop using their native language with
children.
Technology and social media can contribute to this problem because much of the digital world is
dominated by a limited number of major languages. UNESCO notes that more than 7,000
languages are spoken or signed around the world, while many are at risk of disappearing.
However, technology can also become part of the solution. Digital dictionaries, online learning
materials, podcasts, recordings, e-books, and educational applications can give regional and
minority languages a stronger presence. Young people can use technology to create content in
their mother tongue and make the language relevant to modern life.India’s Linguistic Diversity
India is one of the world's most linguistically diverse countries. People across different states and
communities speak numerous languages and dialects, each carrying its own history and cultural
traditions. Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada,
Assamese, Odia, Urdu, and many other languages contribute to India's cultural richness.
This diversity should be seen as a strength rather than a problem. UNESCO's 2025 State of the
Education Report for India focuses specifically on mother-tongue and multilingual education.
The report highlights the importance of using languages that children understand so that
education can become more inclusive and effective.
UNICEF has also highlighted multilingual education initiatives in India. For example,
programmes have developed learning resources in local and tribal languages so that children can
connect classroom learning with their linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
What Can We Do?
Preserving our mother tongue begins with simple everyday actions. Families can use their native
language during conversations at home. Young people can read books, write stories, listen to
songs, and create educational or creative content in their language.
Schools can organise language-related activities, cultural events, debates, storytelling sessions,
and literary competitions. Libraries can provide books in regional languages. Governments and
educational institutions can develop textbooks and digital resources in multiple languages and
train teachers to work effectively in multilingual classrooms.
Most importantly, young people should understand that speaking a mother tongue does not make
them less modern or less capable. Knowing several languages is an advantage. A person can
confidently speak their native language while also learning English and other languages needed
for education and professional opportunities.
Conclusion
Preserving our mother tongue is ultimately about preserving a part of ourselves. A language
connects people with their families, communities, ancestors, traditions, and history. It provides a
unique way of expressing experiences and understanding the world.
The aim should not be to reject other languages. Instead, we should create a balance where
global communication and local identity can exist together. Multilingualism allows people to
participate in a wider world while remaining connected to their cultural roots.International Mother Language Day, observed every year on 21 February, reminds us of the
importance of linguistic diversity. In 2026, UNESCO has particularly highlighted the role of
young people in shaping the future of multilingual education.
Every language carries a story, and every generation has a responsibility to pass that story
forward. When we speak, teach, read, write, and celebrate our mother tongue, we keep that story
alive. Preserving our mother tongue is therefore not only an act of cultural pride; it is an investment inour identity education diversity and future
— By: Vanshika Garg