21 February 2025
Celebrating International Mother Language Day: Honouring Diversity at SPSC
Every year on February 21st, people around the world celebrate International Mother Language Day, established by UNESCO in 1999 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity. With nearly 7,000 languages spoken worldwide, language is a vital part of cultural identity. However, many languages are at risk, with one disappearing every two weeks.
Australia is home to over 300 languages, with around 20% of Australians speaking a language other than English at home. Before European settlement, over 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages were spoken across the country, but today, only about 120 remain. The Kaurna language, spoken by the traditional custodians of the Adelaide Plains, is being revived through education and community efforts.
SPSC reflects this rich linguistic diversity, with staff and students speaking a wide variety of languages. In a recent survey, members of staff listed the languages they speak fluently, including Spanish, French, English, Malay, Indonesian, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Cantonese, Irish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Vietnamese, Greek, Afrikaans, Dutch, Polish, Danish, Arabic, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, Bahasa Melayu, Tamil, Welsh, Chinese, Japanese, and more! This multilingual environment surrounds students with a community that is not only rich in languages but also in cultures and perspectives, offering a dynamic and diverse atmosphere that enhances their experience and help them become more open-minded and develop stronger intercultural understanding.
To celebrate International Mother Language Day, the Languages Faculty has organised a week-long Tongue Twister Competition. In addition to the tongue twisters in the languages they are studying, students even learned a tongue twister in Kaurna—’Ngai Kaurna Warra tirkalirkala, Ngai Kaurna Warra kangkalangkala,’ which means ‘I’m a learner of the Kaurna Language, I’m a carer of the Kaurna Language.’ Throughout the week, students will challenge themselves to master tongue twisters in their chosen languages. The Grand Final will take place on Friday at lunchtime, and the winners will be showcased in an upcoming Muster.
We encourage everyone to embrace this opportunity to celebrate languages and the power of multilingualism. Happy International Mother Language Day!
Marisol Garcia
Head of Languages
