International Mother Language Day

Languages, with their complex implications for identity, communication, social integration, education and development, are of strategic importance for people and planet. Yet, due to globalization processes, they are increasingly under threat, or disappearing altogether. When languages fade, so does the world’s rich tapestry of cultural diversity. Opportunities, traditions, memory, unique modes of thinking and expression — valuable resources for ensuring a better future — are … Continue reading International Mother Language Day

Bangladesh #8 (1971)

Bangladesh #8 (1971)

The name Bangladesh was originally written as two words, Bangla Desh (বাংলাদেশ), which means “the country of Bengal”. Starting in the 1950s, Bengali nationalists used the term in political rallies in East Pakistan. The term Bangla is a major name for both the Bengal region and the Bengali language. The earliest references to the term date to the Nesari plate in 805 AD. The term gained … Continue reading Bangladesh #8 (1971)