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NJ AR123

NJ AR123
Supports goals and ideals of International Mother Language Day.

summary

Introduced
02/24/2026
In Committee
02/24/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2026-2027 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This resolution supports the goals and ideals of International Mother Language Day in bringing attention to the importance of preserving linguistic and cultural heritage through education. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) established International Mother Language Day on November 17, 1999, to promote linguistic diversity and multilingualism. The annual International Mother Language Day celebration date, February 21, was chosen to commemorate the day in 1952 in Bangladesh when students died demonstrating for recognition of Bengali as a national language of Pakistan. UNESCO establishes a different theme for the annual celebration of International Mother Language Day each year, promoting various aspects of linguistic education. The year 2025 marked the 25th anniversary of International Mother Language Day, reaffirming the importance of linguistic diversity and multilingualism in fostering dignity, peace, and understanding. According to the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger, of the over 8,000 existing languages in the world, approximately 1,181 languages are not in use and approximately 6,000 languages are classified as "endangered" with the potential to disappear within a few generations. The United States Census Bureau has identified over 350 languages spoken in the United States, at least 160 of which are distinct Native North American languages. According to the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger, 280 Native North American languages were spoken in the continental United States when the Europeans arrived and more than 115 are already extinct, with many more critically endangered. The United States enjoys a rich and diverse cultural heritage, and preserving existing languages is an essential piece to preserving this heritage.

AI Summary

This resolution supports the goals and ideals of International Mother Language Day, an observance established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1999 to promote linguistic diversity and multilingualism, and to highlight the importance of preserving languages and cultural heritage through education. The date, February 21st, commemorates a 1952 event in Bangladesh where students died advocating for Bengali as a national language, and UNESCO designates a yearly theme to focus on different aspects of linguistic education, with 2025 marking the 25th anniversary of the observance. The resolution acknowledges the alarming rate at which languages are becoming endangered globally, with thousands at risk of disappearing, and notes the significant linguistic diversity within the United States, particularly among Native North American languages, emphasizing that preserving these languages is crucial for maintaining the nation's rich cultural heritage.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (3)

Last Action

Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee (on 02/24/2026)
(1 Companion Bills)

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Document Type Source Location
State Bill Page https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/AR123
BillText https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/AR/123_I1.HTM
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