Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Serra Bucak attended the reception held on the occasion of 21 February International Mother Language Day, stating that they would work more on language and expand the language network.

The Department of Culture and Social Affairs organised a reception at Çand Amed Culture and Congress Centre to mark 21 February International Mother Language Day. In addition to Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Serra Bucak, district municipality co-mayors, Head of the Department of Culture and Social Affairs Zeynep Yaş, writers and artists working in the field of language, and citizens attended the reception.

Co-Mayor Bucak: They prepared a very good programme

Conversing with the guests attending the event, Co-Mayor Bucak then spoke about the 21 February activities and the importance of the mother tongue. Thanking the Department of Culture and Social Affairs and the Language Unit for their contributions, Co-Mayor Bucak said: “They prepared a very good and comprehensive programme. I also thank the council members and the central district municipalities together with them.”

‘We are making efforts for the advancement of the language’

Emphasising that every language is respected and valuable, Co-Mayor Bucak said: “Our language is also very beautiful and very valuable. Our language is not dependent; we cannot say that Kurdish is dependent at present. Because studies are being carried out on this language. A great deal of effort is being made for this language. There are many studies being conducted. There are works in the field of media and in the field of linguistics, and therefore it cannot be said that Kurdish is without ownership, that it is dependent. However, we have a great responsibility. As the Co-Mayors of this city, we are making efforts for the advancement of Kurdish.”

‘We will expand the language network’

Stating that they will work more on language and expand the language network, Co-Mayor Bucak said: “We promise you that we will take the work on language further. We will support the development of Kurdish. We will also provide support for the dialects of the Kurdish language.”

‘Everyone can make an effort in their own way’

Expressing that she was very happy and excited about the event, Co-Mayor Bucak stated that she did not grow up in an environment where Kurdish was spoken, but that she was trying to learn the language well. Co-Mayor Bucak said: “Everyone can make this effort in their own way. Everyone can strive for our language to be a livings language, to be the language of this society. This is important for our future. I congratulate the workers who are engaged in work in the field of language. I celebrate 21 February, and we will make efforts for this language to become a language of education in our country.”

‘Zazaki studies should be supported more’

Following Bucak’s speech, linguist Mehmet Malmîsanîj took the floor. Thanking everyone who contributed to the event, Malmîsanîj said: “There is a need for a wider space for Zazaki. Studies on Zazaki should be supported more.”