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1999年11月， 联合国教科文组织的一般性大会 宣布：从2000年起，每年的2月21日为国际母语日。纪念国际母语日，旨在促进语言和文化的多样性，以及多语种化。

International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by UNESCO’s General Conference in November 1999. The International Day has been observed every year since February 2000 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.

语言是保存和发展人类有形和无形遗产的最有力的工具。各种促进母语传播的运动，都不仅有助于语言的多样化和多语种的教育，而且能够提高对全世界各语言和文化传统的认识，以此在理解、容忍和对话的基础上，促成世界人民的团结。

2006年国际母语日的主题是语言和网络空间。

Languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage. All moves to promote the dissemination of mother tongues will serve not only to encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual education but also to develop fuller awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world and to inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.

International Mother Language Day 2006 will be devoted to the topic of languages and cyberspace. (source)