Kurdish Institute: 18 languages under threat in Turkey 

2026-02-17 12:50:11


	 

	NEWS CENTER - The German Kurdish Research and Science Institute stated in its announcement on February 21, “International Mother Language Day,” that 18 languages are under threat in Turkey and emphasized that Kirmancki is also at risk.

	 

	The German Institute for Kurdish Research and Science issued a written statement on February 21, “International Mother Language Day.” The statement recalled that UNESCO declared February 21 “International Mother Language Day” in 2000 and drew attention to the historical background of the day and the current risk of language loss.

	 

	Its origins date back to 1952

	 

	The statement noted that the origins of the day date back to the 1952 uprising in Dhaka, where Bengali students lost their lives defending their mother tongue, stating, “Today, this struggle has become a symbol of the global fight against the decline and extinction of languages.”

	 

	'Mother tongue is the foundation of cultural memory and existence'

	 

	The institute's statement said, “The mother tongue is not just a means of communication; it is the foundation of personality, cultural memory, and the existence of a nation. National consciousness is shaped in the sweet waters of the mother tongue.” 

	 

	‘2,500 languages face extinction’

	 

	The statement noted that there are more than 6,000 languages in the world, and that approximately 2,500 languages are under threat of extinction. According to UNESCO reports, 18 languages are under threat in Turkey, and it was emphasized that one of these languages is Kirmancki, a dialect of Kurdish.

	 

	'The Kurdish language has survived to this day despite bans'

	 

	The statement noted that despite policies of denial, assimilation, and prohibition, the Kurdish language has survived thanks to the stories told by mothers, the work of dengbêj singers, and the efforts of the community. It stated that for a language to survive permanently, it must “go beyond the confines of the home” and find a place in daily life, writing, culture, and science.

	 

	Speak, read, and write in Kurdish

	 

	The Institute called on everyone and all institutions to “fulfill their national duties,” drawing attention to the fact that education in one's mother tongue is a fundamental human right. The statement ended with the words, "Think Kurdish! Speak Kurdish! Read Kurdish! Write in Kurdish! Long live the mother tongue! Long live the Kurdish language!"