Secretary-General’s Message for International Mother Language Day

秘書長國際母語日致辭

21 February 2014

2014年2月21日

International Mother Language Day celebrates linguistic and cultural diversity alongside multilingualism as a force for peace and sustainable development.

國際母語日慶祝語言和文化的多樣性以及多種語文的使用，它們是推動和平與可持續發展的力量。

As we work towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals while mapping out a post-2015 sustainable development agenda, this diversity can encourage dialogue, mutual understanding, innovation and creativity. This in turn can help us build more just and inclusive societies. As the late President Nelson Mandela once said, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart”.

在我們努力實現千年發展目標并繪制2015年后可持續發展議程之時，這一多樣性可以鼓勵對話、相互了解、創新和創造性。這轉而又能幫助我們建設更公正、更包容的社會。正如已故的納爾遜·曼德拉總統所說，“你用一個人懂得的語言與他交談，你的話進入他的大腦。你用一個人的母語與他交談，你的話深入他的內心。”

The theme of this year’s observance spotlights the vital role of local languages in advancing science. This will help ensure that the latest scientific knowledge is more widely shared. At the same time, it will help deepen and enrich our global knowledge base with more traditional but often overlooked scientific wisdom.

今年紀念活動的主題突出了地方語言在促進科學進步方面的關鍵作用。這將有助于確保最新的科學知識得到更廣泛分享。同時，它還將有助于以更傳統但往往被忽視的科學智慧，深化和豐富我們的全球知識基礎。

Let us all join forces to promote linguistic diversity and multilingualism as a key element in our efforts to build a better world and a life of dignity for all.

讓我們大家協力促進語言多樣性和多種語言的使用，在我們為所有人建設更美好世界和有尊嚴生活的努力中，這一點至關重要。

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