International Mother Language Day.

International Mother Language Day on Aruba has evolved into a day to highlight the importance of Papiamento, which is still underappreciated in school but should receive greater attention. Naturally, consideration is also given to the significance of multilingualism, which is widely regarded and ingrained in our community.

History

The initiative came from a Bangladeshi-Canadian citizen, Rafiqul Islam, who sent a letter to Kofi Annan, then Secretary-General of the United Nations, requesting action to protect languages from extinction by establishing a special day to recognize the importance of mother languages. The Bangladeshi government supported this idea and officially proposed it, leading to the creation of International Mother Language Day.

After India's independence, one of its provinces, Bengal, was divided into two parts based on the religious majority of its inhabitants. The western part became a province of India, while the eastern part became part of Pakistan, initially named East Bengal and later East Pakistan.
Tensions already existed between the two regions, but they escalated in 1948 when Pakistan’s government, dominated by West Pakistani politicians, declared Urdu the only national language, sidelining Bengali, despite its majority of speakers.

Protests erupted, and the Pakistani government declared them illegal. On February 21, 1952, police fired on demonstrators, killing four students. The struggle continued, and after more casualties, Bengali received official recognition as a national language on February 29, 1956. In 1971, East Pakistan gained independence, becoming Bangladesh, with Bengali as its official language.

The Importance of Multilingualism

International Mother Language Day promotes linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. UNESCO urges countries to ensure that no language disappears while recognizing that multilingualism is desirable and essential. If Pakistan’s government had embraced multilingualism in 1948 by recognizing Urdu and Bengali as national languages, much of the conflict could have been avoided, allowing both languages and their speakers to coexist peacefully. However, it is also essential to recognize that language is not always the sole source of conflict. In Aruba, Papiamento is the primary language of most people, followed by Spanish, English, and Dutch, in that order. Although other languages are present, these four are the most dominant. Spanish, English, and Dutch each hold a place in the community, whether at home, in schools, or in public and private sectors, making knowledge of these languages valuable.

English in Aruba

A unique case is English. Because of its global standing, media presence, and function in the travel industry, American English is referred to when speaking English in Aruba. However, Aruba also has its local form of English, known by various names such as Bad English, Bush English, or San Nicolas English. In Papiamento, also known as "Ingles di Pariba" or "Ingles di San Nicolas." This variant of English remains a living language, particularly prominent during Carnival season. Despite some derogatory connotations associated with its name, it deserves recognition on this international day dedicated to linguistic diversity.

Papiamento in Schools

In August 2024, Aruba implemented Papiamento as a language of instruction in primary schools, allowing students to learn to read and write in their mother tongue. It aligns with UNESCO recommendations since 1953, emphasizing the importance of using native language in education to develop critical thinking skills and achieve better academic outcomes. There are around 7,000 languages, yet only 351 instructional languages in schools. Moreover, 40% of schoolchildren worldwide do not receive education in a language they speak or understand.

There is no official global day dedicated to Papiamento. Many major languages have their international day, such as English and Spanish (April 23), French (March 20), Chinese (April 20), and Arabic (December 18). It is crucial to recognize and appreciate the contributions of those who help preserve and promote Papiamento, namely educators, journalists, writers, poets, or media personalities. Flawed Papiamento is preferable to no language, even though it occasionally receives criticism for its improper use. Efforts should continue to enhance its quality. Papiamento belongs to us, and its future is in our hands.

For more information about Papiamento, visit www.papiamento.aw and follow @PapiamentoAruba on Facebook and @Papiamento.aw on Instagram.
For more information about education in Aruba, visit www.ea.aw and follow @EducationAruba on Facebook and Instagram