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February 21st: Celebrating linguistic diversity and cultural exchange

Published:
21.2.2024

February 21st: Celebrating linguistic diversity and cultural exchange

February 21st marks the observation of two significant international days: International Mother Tongue Day and International Tourist Guide Day. These two international days, occurring on the same date, highlight the significance of both linguistic diversity and cultural exchange in fostering global understanding and appreciation.

Preserving Slovenia's Linguistic Identity

International Mother Tongue Day, established by UNESCO in 1999, commemorates linguistic diversity and promotes multilingualism worldwide. This observance recognizes the importance of preserving and promoting mother tongues as a crucial aspect of cultural identity and heritage. It also serves as a reminder of the need to safeguard languages from extinction and promote linguistic rights for all individuals.

Slovenia, a nation with a population of only about two million, has a rich linguistic history marked by efforts to preserve the Slovenian language. Throughout its history, Slovenia has faced challenges in maintaining the vitality of its language, particularly due to the fact that it has been under the influence of its neighbouring countries. One of the consequences is that Slovenian developed a distinctive feature: dialects. With over 40 dialects varying from region to region, Slovenian stands out as one of the most diverse Slavic languages. 

Learn 25 ways to say "gradma" in Slovenian

Additionally, Slovenian is among the few European languages that employ the dual form, further adding to its linguistic uniqueness.

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Learn more about Slovenia by taking guided tours of cities and attractions

Alongside International Mother Tongue Day, the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) established International Tourist Guide Day (ITGD) in 1990. ITGD celebrates the invaluable contributions of tourist guides to the travel industry, emphasizing their role in enhancing cultural exchange, fostering understanding between people of different backgrounds, and enriching the travel experience for visitors worldwide.

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These two international days, occurring on the same date, highlight the significance of both linguistic diversity and cultural exchange in fostering global understanding and appreciation. They serve as reminders of the importance of preserving and celebrating the richness of languages and cultures while promoting sustainable tourism practices and meaningful travel experiences.

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Global public relations and Marketing
e-mail address: press(at)slovenia.info

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