Móðurmál –the Association on Bilingualism– and mother tongue groups celebrate the international mother language day today, together with many in the world.
At the occasion of the day, the children who attend mother tongue classes in Móðurmál at this point were counted; the final number is 650 which means a decrease from the previous year. However, English, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Bulgarian and Indonesian will hopefully start. Also, a new Russian school is joining in the spring. Outside of Móðurmál, other languages are supported by playgroups and parent groups, i.e. Finish and Swedish in the Nordic house.
Móðurmál is celebrating the day on Saturday 24th February, in a collaborative project with the Reykjavík City Library, the School and Leisure Department of the City of Reykjavík, the Center of Language and Literacy, and the Cultural Center of Gerðuberg. Six choirs will sing songs in their mother tongues and then one Icelandic song together at the end, it will be possible to write a letter to friends and relatives in other countries and a language tree will be decorated with beautiful words in all world´s languages. There will be creative workshops and karaoke where languages will play the main role. Móðurmál will present its library project.
Vigdís World Language Centre held a symposium Dictionaries: Multilingualism, Translations and Terminology where the importance of dictionaries for linguistic diversity, multilingualism and the bridging of borders was discussed. Móðurmál was there, presenting various bottom-up dictionary projects!
Móðurmál is also taking part in the Finish initiative “Multilingual Month” which collects and highlight various language events and initiative in the Nordic countries. All Icelandic projects celebrating mother languages, registered at Multilingual Month, can be seen here
Happy Day and happy Multilingual Month! 🗣
