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Did you know Malala Yousufzai can speak four languages?

Did you know Malala Yousufzai can speak four languages?

Happy International Mother Language Day from the Nobel Prize laureate to you!
22 Feb, 2021

The youngest laureate to receive a Nobel Prize for her impressive achievements in education, Malala Yousufzai is celebrating International Mother Language Day, a worldwide annual observance to promote multilingualism and spread awareness about cultural diversity.

In a recent video posted on Twitter, the Oxford graduate introduced herself as a 23-year-old from Swat, Pakistan whose mother tongue is Pashto.

"My mother tongue is Pashto and at home, we all speak in the Pashto language," she introduced. Yousufzai continued to speak in not one, but four different languages, shocking viewers with the revelation that she is quadrilingual.

"I also speak Urdu, which is the national language of Pakistan," she added. "Most of the films, dramas and songs I see are in Urdu."

Naturally, the young activist also said she was well-versed in English, which she said improved once she went to the United Kingdom for her undergraduate education. "Most of my readings are in the English language."

Like that wasn't enough, Malala informed her audience that she was currently in the process of learning Swahili — a language originating from the coast of East Africa, and spoken by millions of people in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

"I like it," she exclaimed.

The video was uploaded through TikTok, an app Yousufzai first joined in December 2020 as she urged women to donate to the Malala fund for Giving Tuesday.

Comments

M. Emad Feb 22, 2021 02:48pm
Major regional languages should be made 'National Language' of Pakistan.
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Marquis de Sade Feb 22, 2021 02:50pm
A large majority of Indians speak at least four languages.
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JustSaying Feb 22, 2021 02:51pm
" Did you know Malala Yousufzai can speak four languages?..." Because of International Exposure... Because she is in ( Christian) Europe... Because of the European Modern Education System.....
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Murad Feb 22, 2021 03:08pm
I can speak 5 languages
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Asghar Feb 22, 2021 03:12pm
I know many kids who roam in streets to collect garbage fluently speak 3 languages and non of them have been to schools.....
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Faizan Gul Feb 22, 2021 03:24pm
I can speak Kashmiri, Urdu, Hindi, English and and Arabic. Why am I not famous? I'm crying
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Leo Feb 22, 2021 03:28pm
Glorified lucky person who landed up in a developed Christian world who gave her family a jumpstart. Nothing more, no intellect . Greta Thunberg the activist caught red handed tweeting a premeditated attack on India's internal issues. All paid people, no intellect.
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Faisal Feb 22, 2021 04:17pm
Most of the Pakistanis residing in Europe or other non english speaking countries can speak at least four languages which include Urdu, English, country of residence language and mother tongue (Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, Balochi, etc.)
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Alishba Feb 22, 2021 04:49pm
We do not have 4 language policy like India. So we dont need to learn it unlike her and Indians.
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Abs Feb 22, 2021 05:16pm
Why so much bitterness against her?
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Savera Feb 22, 2021 05:22pm
I can speak 8 languages.
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Shahbaz Ahmed Tarar Feb 22, 2021 05:26pm
I can speak punjabi, urdu, sindhi, pushto, sirayki, pothohari, english,
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Jawaad Feb 22, 2021 05:39pm
Unfortunately no arabic?
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Marcus Aurelius Feb 22, 2021 05:42pm
@Marquis de Sade, I can speak 7 languages, Pashto, Urdu, Farsi, English, Arabic, Brahvi, and French. Does not mean anything if you do not have an affluent background.
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D’Souza Feb 22, 2021 06:23pm
That’s a big deal for Pakistanis. Most Indians can speak 4. I can speak 5.
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Twinkle kapure Feb 22, 2021 06:43pm
I can speak Hindi, English, Marathi and Gujarati.
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Jiman Feb 22, 2021 07:00pm
My 6 year old son can speak 4 languages. One of them is french. No doubt he is Indian.
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M. Siddique Feb 22, 2021 07:04pm
@Faizan Gul Hindi is NOT a separate language, it is a variation of Urdu with words from local languages.
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Tamilselvan Feb 22, 2021 07:28pm
She can speak five including Hindi
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Suresh Singh Feb 22, 2021 07:33pm
@M. Siddique urdu is originated from Hindi not Hindi from urdu. Go and read history. By the way Urdu is originated in Lucknow India.
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ABCD Feb 22, 2021 07:43pm
Know to speak in four languages to get Nobel prize.
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Arifa Feb 22, 2021 09:04pm
@Suresh Singh urdu originates from Persian and Turkish language.
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Savitri Feb 22, 2021 09:13pm
I can speak Hindi, Urdu, Marathi, Arabic, Gujarati, Spanish, and some Turkish too.
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Summaiya Saeed Feb 22, 2021 09:31pm
So what's the big deal. so can millions of people
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Anil Feb 22, 2021 09:35pm
@Faizan Gul lol.. you are now! I am your biggest fan. Happy
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AZAM AKBAR Feb 22, 2021 09:37pm
@Arifa Ms. Arifa, Correct.
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RationalBabu Feb 22, 2021 10:46pm
@Arifa but it still evolved from Hindi which is mixture of Sanskrit, Farsi and Turkish. Add some Arabic words and it becomes Urdu!
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Jamal Feb 22, 2021 11:13pm
What about Arabic the “ compulsory” language in Pakistan?
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Din Feb 22, 2021 11:24pm
@Faisal Well said,sir
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Asma wali Feb 23, 2021 12:03am
I can speak six languages.
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AHAQ Feb 23, 2021 12:04am
Why not punjabi, baluchi and sindhi languages closer to home.
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Dillon Feb 23, 2021 12:26am
@Arifa not really. Literal meaning of urdu is “ mixture” it was developed in Lakhnew, India. It has Arabic, hindi, Punjabi, Sanskrit words. Yes, Punjabi was spoken before urdu.
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Zahid Latif Feb 23, 2021 12:26am
Any good educated Pakistani can speak 4 languages..
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Saudi Feb 23, 2021 01:27am
In south India almost all people speak 4 languages many speak 6 to 8 or even 12 languages. Some German or Spanish or French . Everyone speaks some English and Hindi and many also speak Urdu Tamil Kannada télégu , Malayalam, gujarathi Sindhi, Bengali Marathi Rajistan I Haryanvi etc etc ... no big deal.
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Faysal Feb 23, 2021 04:28am
My five years old daughter speaks 4 langauges. Whats big deal in it?
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F.Iqbal Feb 23, 2021 06:01am
Its great to know. She has done well. However, in Pakistan, even the most illiterate can speak and understand at least three languages. Think about it.
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Feb 23, 2021 07:28am
There are lots of people like her who can speak, read and write in more than four languages.
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Glen D'Abreo Feb 23, 2021 07:32am
@Leo Why so much bitterness against her?
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Amir Mirza Feb 23, 2021 07:35am
very impressive
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INDEPENDENT Feb 23, 2021 07:38am
@D’Souza Yes, she is focused because she is famous. Not like you. Who are you by the way?
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Observer Feb 23, 2021 09:27am
Urdu is also a language of India...same people divided by politicians.
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Alex Feb 23, 2021 10:20am
@Jawaad who cares.
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Chrís Dăń Feb 23, 2021 10:32am
In india everyone speaks 4 languages
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Amjad Durrani Engineer USA Feb 23, 2021 10:37am
She is a role model for our 49% female population of the country, especially those from backward areas of Baluchistan, GB, FATA in KPK, and Thar in Sind, where girl education is shun away. She is doing a commendable job in Swat by providing financial help to establish girls schools. One can earnestly hope that her pioneer work would be copied by others which is likely to work miracle in female emancipation in our country, where majority areas are still run by medieval system pivoted by feudal lords, discouraging girls education.
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Sami Feb 23, 2021 11:54am
I can speak 9 languages, Urdu, hindko, Punjabi, pashto, potohari, English, german, Italian , snd little but French.
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shazia Feb 23, 2021 01:34pm
@Amjad Durrani Engineer USA You are right. Many people specially girls from these backward areas are illiterate, cannot speak any language aside from their mother tongue and are not even familiar with Pakistan's national language Urdu. Most people who have commented here are far too privileged and unfamiliar with problems faced by people living in these areas.
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SOHAIB MUSHTAQ Feb 23, 2021 03:22pm
wow very nice, she is talent of Pakistan
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Jamil Soomro, New York City Feb 23, 2021 05:02pm
The most logical comment on Urdu Language here is by Arifa. She is right Urdu does originate from Persian and Turkish. I would add Arabic too. The word Urdu itself is a Turkish word. Our National Anthem is only in Persian. The great Poet Mirza Ghalib who was of Turkish Parents had command over Urdu and Persian Languages.
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Munira huzaifa Feb 23, 2021 05:25pm
Hi malala, I am also from Pakistan but live in the United Arab Emirates. I am really inspired by you.
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Najeebullah Feb 23, 2021 07:49pm
Malala yousafzai proud of kana pakistan
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Najeebullah Feb 23, 2021 07:52pm
ملالہ یوسفزئی کانا سوات پاکستان کی عزت ہے proud of you اور یوسفزئی تمام دنیا کی نمائندگی کرتی ہیں
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kabeelakhan Feb 24, 2021 11:04am
@M. Emad Why do you poke your nose in every matter concerning Pakistan.
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kabeelakhan Feb 24, 2021 11:06am
@Abs What to love about her?
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Md Feb 24, 2021 04:05pm
She cannot speak for minority girls of pakistan, what is the use? Lets see how many days she survive if comes back to pakistan.
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MA Feb 24, 2021 08:56pm
I can speak 5. Urdu, Pushto, Punjabi, Chinese, English.
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