International Mother Language Day

The Hon. M. EL DANNAWI (15:51): Today is International Mother Language Day, a day nominated by the United Nations to highlight the role of languages in promoting inclusion and achieving sustainable development goals. The date 21 February was chosen to commemorate the tragic events of 1952 in Bangladesh where students protesting for the recognition of their mother tongue, Bengali, were brutally suppressed by authorities. This day serves as a solemn reminder of the importance of protecting cultural identity and linguistic rights as fundamental human rights.

Based on the data collected from the 2021 Census, South Australia is home to people from more than 214 countries, speaking 248 languages, and almost 18 per cent of South Australians speak a language other than English at home. I, myself, speak to my family in Arabic and French, Arabic being my mother language and French being a language I studied from the age of three.

Languages are not only tools of communication, they are also a profound aspect of human identity and diversity. They are vessels of history, tradition and collective memory. The languages I speak tell the history of my home country, Lebanon. For example, the use of French in Lebanon is a result of the French mandate following World War I. The French language is now used on Lebanese lira banknotes, road signs, vehicle registration plates and public buildings, alongside Arabic, and Lebanese Arabic, although a descendant of classical Arabic, evolved to have its own distinct pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar since its introduction in the 7^th century, reflective of the various diaspora in Lebanon.

This year's theme for International Mother Language Day is 'Multilingual education—a pillar of learning and intergenerational learning'. The theme highlights the importance of multilingual education policies, which are crucial for inclusive education and preservation of indigenous languages. It also empowers children from CALD communities to fully engage with their cultural heritage.

I was fortunate enough to attend an event held by Community Language Schools SA last November on behalf of the Hon. Blair Boyer, Minister for Education, Training and Skills, and the Hon. Zoe Bettison, Minister for Multicultural Affairs. I saw firsthand the important work being done by the board, staff members and volunteers of Community Language Schools SA's member schools to preserve the heritage and culture of our diverse communities.

Language learning is not just about mastering vocabulary and grammar, it is a source of cultural enrichment, awareness and empathy. It is through language that we learn about our roots, understand our place in the world and pass on the wisdom of our ancestors to future generations. It is wonderful that our government recognises the importance of nurturing community languages in our state and have committed an additional $4 million over four years in our community language schools.