Why Mother Languages Matter
Every language carries a way of seeing the world
Cardiff is home to speakers of well over 90 languages. The monument stands for all of them — a shared point of pride for every community whose first words, at home, were spoken in something other than English.
Identity
A mother tongue carries family, memory and belonging — it's often the language of home, long after another language becomes the language of daily life.
Diversity
Around 7,000 languages are spoken worldwide, and roughly one in three is at risk of falling out of use. Every language kept alive keeps a distinct way of thinking alive with it.
Learning
Children who keep building their first language alongside English tend to do better across their schooling — multilingualism is a strength, not a hurdle.
Community
From Bengali to Somali, Polish to Welsh, Cardiff's many mother tongues are part of what makes the city's neighbourhoods feel like home.