Language tells a lot about culture.

On February 21, the world observed International Mother Language Day to  promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and to promote multilingualism.

India is home to several cultures and an Indian is exposed to several languages.

Eighth schedule of the Indian Constitution recognizes 22 languages in the country. Part XVII of the Indian Constitution deals with these languages from article 343 to 351.

Importance of mother tongue

Our identity is made up of culture, values, experiences, and mother tongue.

Learning the mother tongue impacts the comprehensive development of a child. People learn better when they learn in their mother tongue. It allows better communication between family and friends. Learning your mother tongue helps you appreciate the cultural diversity. Research shows children proficient in their mother tongue perform better in academics.

Multilingualism contributes to the development of inclusive societies that allow multiple cultures, worldviews and knowledge systems to coexist and cross-fertilize. ~ International Mother Language Day | United Nations

In today's globalized world, if you are working in a foreign location, knowledge of the local language will help you understand the culture better. If you know the language, you build better relationship with your colleagues. However, for career advancement, it is important to attain proficiency in the business language i.e. English.

Recently, I conducted a LinkedIn survey about fluency of mother tongue.

• Most of the respondents know how to read and write in their mother tongue.
• Few of the respondents can speak fluently, while others mix English words.

Your mother tongue connects you with your roots and cultural heritage. It is never too late to start anything. You can read books and other pieces of literature to understand the nitty-gritties of your native language.

It is time we understand importance of our native language and the role it plays in our lives. Let us try our best to learn other languages to celebrate the global diversity and bridge the communication gap to build a harmonious world.

5 reasons why it is important to know your mother tongue well 21 February international mother language day (reva.edu.in)

I am a keen learner of languages. So, with my interest, my proficiency level in Indian languages is as follows:

• Bengali (mother tongue) - Read, Write and Speak
• Hindi (academics) - Read, Write and Speak
• Kannada (Learned at work) - Speak
• Telugu, Marathi, Punjabi - Understand the context.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the proficiency of your native language?