United Nations(UN) Chinese Language Day is annually observed across the globe on 20th April to celebrate the Chinese language , one of the six official languages of the UN. The day also aims to build a platform for people from all over the world to get to know the Chinese language.
Purpose: To create general awareness about the Chinese language and to promote multilingual culture and diversity among people.
Significance:
The day also aims to commemorate the contribution of Cangjie, a mythical figure who is presumed to have invented Chinese characters.
- Cangjie, one of the significant figures in the history of ancient China, is claimed to be the official historian of the Yellow Emperor.
UN Chinese Language Day is one of the six official language days of the UN.
Background:
i.In 2010, the United Nations Department of Public Information (now the Department of Global Communications) announced the launch of United Nations Language Day.
ii.This aims to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity and to promote the equal use of the six official languages.
iii.The Permanent Mission of China to the UN suggested designating “Grain Rain (Gu Yu)” (April 20), one of the 24 solar terms of the Chinese lunar calendar, as the UN Chinese Language Day. Gu Yu is the 6th solar term among the 24 and it is also the last solar term in spring.
- The first-ever Chinese Language Day was observed on 12th November 2010 and since 2011, the UN Chinese Language Day has been celebrated on 20th April.
UN & Chinese:
i.The Chinese language was identified as the official language of the UN when it was established in 1945.
ii.Among the 6 official languages of the UN, Chinese is the only official language used by a single country.
iii.In 2009, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) listed Chinese calligraphy with a history of more than 3,000 years in the “Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage”.
UN Language Days:
i.The UN language days aims to emphasize the importance of linguistic and cultural diversity and promote the equal use of the six official languages of
ii.There are six official languages of the UN. These are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish and the UN has established language days for each of its six official languages.
Other Language days of UN:
- March 20 – French Day
- April 23 – English Day (William Shakespeare’s Birthday and Death Day)
- April 23 – Spanish Language Day
- June 6 – Russian Language Day (Alexander Pushkin’s Birthday)
- December 18 – Arabic Language Day
