Secretary-General’s Message for International Mother Language Day

秘书长国际母语日致辞

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.

国际母语日庆祝语言和文化的多样性以及多种语文的使用，它们是推动和平与可持续发展的力量。

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”.

在我们努力实现千年发展目标并绘制2015年后可持续发展议程之时，这一多样性可以鼓励对话、相互了解、创新和创造性。这转而又能帮助我们建设更公正、更包容的社会。正如已故的纳尔逊·曼德拉总统所说，“你用一个人懂得的语言与他交谈，你的话进入他的大脑。你用一个人的母语与他交谈，你的话深入他的内心。”

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.

今年纪念活动的主题突出了地方语言在促进科学进步方面的关键作用。这将有助于确保最新的科学知识得到更广泛分享。同时，它还将有助于以更传统但往往被忽视的科学智慧，深化和丰富我们的全球知识基础。

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.

让我们大家协力促进语言多样性和多种语言的使用，在我们为所有人建设更美好世界和有尊严生活的努力中，这一点至关重要。

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