English Language Day

Language Days at the UN

English Language Day at the UN is celebrated on 23 April, the date traditionally observed as both the birthday and date of death of William Shakespeare. The Day is the result of a 2010 initiative by the Department of Public Information, establishing language days for each of the Organization's six official languages. The purpose of the UN's language days is to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as to promote equal use of all six official languages throughout the Organization.

Under the initiative, UN duty stations around the world celebrate six separate days, each dedicated to one of the Organization's six official languages.

The days are as follows:

• Arabic (18 December)
• Chinese (20 April)
• English (23 April)
• French (20 March)
• Russian (6 June)
• Spanish (23 April)

Language Days at the UN aim to entertain as well as inform, with the goal of increasing awareness and respect for the history, culture and achievements of each of the six working languages among the UN community.

History Of English Language Day

The first origins of the English Language can be found in medieval England and takes its name from the Angles. The Angles were a West Germanic tribe that found its way to England, taking their name from the Anglia peninsula that juts out into the Baltic Sea. From its inception, it has taken on grammar, tones, and words from every language it has come into contact with. There are those who would argue that English is no longer a language of its own, but an amalgam of every language it’s come into contact with.

So powerful has English become, that it is now the Lingua Franca of the entire world, bringing together everyone for trade and communication, and serving as a required second language in almost every nation. English has become the official language of nearly 60 countries throughout the world, and it seems to gain ground with every passing year.

However, it also stands as one of the most complicated languages to learn as a second language (with Japanese standing toe to toe with it for this inauspicious award). Unsurprising when it contains words like their, there, and they’re. Or when the plural of goose is geese, but the plural of moose is… moose. English Language Day celebrates its history, its future, and its strangeness.

How to celebrate English Language Day

Celebrate English Language Day by learning a bit about its history, and words that may not be in use at the moment. Learn about where it’s spoken, and how it’s used. Maybe take some time to help someone learning English get a little better at it, or even learn about the different variations there are. Canadian English, UK English, Scots English, and American English all have their own little colloquialisms and slang that differ broadly from each other! Wouldn’t it be interesting to learn how one language can have so many variations and still be considered a single language? English Language Day gives you the chance to do just that!