Following a decision by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), 21 February has been celebrated as “International Mother Language Day” since 2000. The main reason for these celebrations over the past 26 years has been to promote cultural diversity and multilingualism around the world.

 

However, hundreds of languages, which are evidence and transmitters of cultural heritage, are still facing the threat of extinction. 

 

ONE LANGUAGE DISAPPEARS EVERY TWO WEEKS

 

According to a report published by UNESCO on 4 March 2025, there are 8,324 languages spoken or used as sign languages. Approximately 7,000 of these are still in use today. However, only 351 are languages of instruction. Globally, 40 per cent of children receive education in their mother language. 

 

One language disappears every two weeks, highlighting the urgent need for language preservation and revitalisation efforts.

 

ETHNOLOGUE: 44 PER CENT OF LANGUAGES ARE ENDANGERED 

 

According to data from Ethnologue, another important resource for language studies and inventory, there are 7,159 languages spoken worldwide.

 

Approximately 44 per cent of all languages are currently endangered, and generally have fewer than 1,000 speakers left. 

 

The world's 20 largest languages are the native languages of more than 3.7 billion people. This represents only 0.3 per cent of the world's languages and covers almost half of the world's population.

 

The figures in both organisations' reports are constantly changing, as new information about spoken languages is discovered every day. 

 

MOTHER LANGUAGE EDUCATION AND THE SITUATION IN COUNTRIES

 

One of the main reasons why hundreds of languages are facing extinction is that they are not used in public life and education.

 

Both international organisations and linguists and experts emphasise the need to establish protection and education programmes in response to this threat. At this point, it is pointed out that education in the mother tongue is vital. 

 

The exact number of countries worldwide that provide multilingual education is unknown. However, it is known that education is provided in more than one language in many countries.

 

Particularly in some multicultural and multi-ethnic countries, teaching a second or third language alongside the dominant language is adopted as a policy.

 

However, the picture is reversed in nation states. Turkey is at the forefront of these countries.

 

SINGLE-LANGUAGE POLICY IN TURKEY: 15 LANGUAGES AT RISK 

 

The exact number of languages spoken in Turkey is unknown. However, between 20 and 30 languages/dialects are part of daily life.

 

According to UNESCO's Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger, three languages have become completely extinct in Turkey: Ubik, Mlahso and Cappadocian Greek. 

 

Hertevin is classified as "endangered". Turoyo, Ladino, Gagauz, Romani, Western Armenian, Hemshin, Laz, Pontic Greek, Abaza and Suret are considered seriously endangered.

 

Adyghe, Abkhaz, Kabardian-Circassian languages and the Kirmancki (Zazaki) dialect of Kurdish are also in the "vulnerable" languages category. 

 

ARTICLE 42: NO OTHER LANGUAGES MAY BE TAUGHT!

 

There is only one official language in Turkey, and that is Turkish. The Constitution and domestic legal texts prevent the right to education in one's mother tongue. 

 

The introduction to Article 42 of the Constitution states, "No one may be deprived of their right to education and learning." However, it immediately continues with the phrase "... no language other than Turkish may be taught or used in educational and training institutions..." 

 

This provision contravenes international legal texts prohibiting linguistic discrimination in education. 

 

Although Turkey has signed many international agreements on rights and freedoms, it has placed reservations on the sections of these agreements relating to education in the mother tongue. 

 

Turkey is a party to the United Nations (UN) International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, but has placed a reservation on the article of the covenant regulating the right to education.

 

LOZAN RESERVATION

 

The Universal Declarations of Human Rights and Children’s Rights are among these texts. Turkey signed the Convention on the Rights of the Child—adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on November 20, 1989—in 1990, placing reservations on several of its articles. While most ethnically diverse countries have ratified these conventions, Turkey has remained outside this group.

 

Turkey raised reservations to Articles 17, 29 and 30 within the framework of the 1982 Constitution and the provisions of the Treaty of Lausanne.

 

The Treaty of Lausanne grants non-Muslim minorities living in Turkey the right to establish educational institutions in their own languages, provided they establish them themselves, but does not grant this right to Muslims. 

 

The UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education was adopted on 14 December 1960 and entered into force on 22 May 1962. Under the Convention, states undertake to repeal any laws or administrative directives that involve discrimination in education and to eliminate discriminatory administrative practices.

 

The first paragraph of Article 5 of the Convention states that “It is essential to recognize the right of members of national minorities to carry on their own educational activities, including the maintenance of schools and, depending on the educational policy of each State, the use or the teaching of their own language…” However, Turkey has not signed this convention either. 

 

ELECTIVE COURSES EXIST, BUT THERE ARE NO TEACHERS!

 

The fact that education is not provided in any language other than Turkish has been at the centre of debate for many years. It is also cited as a fundamental reason for the unresolved Kurdish issue. 

 

Following the struggle, a new regulation was introduced in September 2012. With the published regulation, Kurdish entered the Ministry of National Education's curriculum as an elective course under the name "Living Languages and Dialects".

 

The way was paved for the Kurmanji and Kirmancki dialects of Kurdish to be offered as electives in grades 5, 6, 7, and 8. 

 

However, many associations and linguists working on Kurdish were not included in this process. Furthermore, over time, obstacles such as "no teachers, no materials, insufficient physical resources" began to be placed in the way of students. The number of teachers allocated for Kurdish has also been reduced each year. 

 

This situation has led to a significant drop in the number of students choosing Kurdish in some years. 

 

The data for the last three years regarding those who chose Kurdish is as follows: 

 

2023-2024 academic year: 23,000 students 

 

2024-2025 academic year: 35,000 students 

 

2025-2026 academic year: 59,362

 

The data on appointments over the last five years is as follows: 

 

Appointment data is as follows:

 

*2021: Total of 3 quotas (2 Kurmanji, 1 Zazaki)

 

*2022: Total of 2 quotas

 

*2023: Total of 50 quotas (35 Kurmanji, 15 Zazaki)

 

*2024: Total of 10 quotas (for Kurmanji and Zazaki dialects)

 

*2025: Total of 6 quotas (5 Kurmanji, 1 Zazaki)

 

Tomorrow: The status of Kurdish language institutions

 

MA / Azad Altay