Official languages of the United Nations

The United Nations (UN), established in 1945 to promote international peace, security, and cooperation, recognises six official languages used in its work and documentation. These languages represent major linguistic and cultural regions of the world, ensuring inclusivity and equality among member states. The six official languages of the United Nations are:
Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.
Each language plays a crucial role in facilitating communication among diplomats, representatives, and the global public.

Historical Background

When the United Nations was founded after the Second World War, the Charter of the United Nations was drafted and adopted in five languages — English, French, Chinese, Russian, and Spanish. Arabic was added later, in 1973, recognising the growing importance of the Arab world in international affairs.
The choice of these languages reflected a combination of geopolitical influence, colonial history, and demographic representation. They were selected to ensure that the organisation could communicate effectively with the widest possible range of its member states and populations.

The Six Official Languages

1. Arabic
   • Adopted: 1973 (by the General Assembly Resolution 3190)
   • Regions Represented: Middle East and North Africa
   • Reason for Inclusion: Reflects the cultural, political, and economic significance of the Arab world and the growing participation of Arab-speaking nations in international diplomacy.
   • Use: Commonly used in discussions involving the League of Arab States and regional issues.
2. Chinese
   • Adopted: 1945 (as one of the original languages)
   • Regions Represented: East Asia
   • Reason for Inclusion: Represents the Chinese civilisation and the large population of China, a founding member of the UN and a permanent member of the Security Council.
   • Use: Increasingly significant as China’s global role expands. The UN uses Mandarin (Putonghua) as the standard form.
3. English
   • Adopted: 1945 (as one of the original languages)
   • Regions Represented: Widely spoken in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.
   • Reason for Inclusion: Due to the political and economic influence of the United Kingdom and the United States at the time of the UN’s founding.
   • Use: English is one of the two working languages of the UN Secretariat and is widely used in official communications and documentation.
4. French
   • Adopted: 1945 (as one of the original languages)
   • Regions Represented: Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia and the Americas.
   • Reason for Inclusion: French was historically the diplomatic language of Europe and remains widely used in international relations.
   • Use: Alongside English, French is the other working language of the UN Secretariat. It is also extensively used in international treaties and legal documents.
5. Russian
   • Adopted: 1945 (as one of the original languages)
   • Regions Represented: Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
   • Reason for Inclusion: The Soviet Union’s status as a founding member and a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
   • Use: Continues to be a key language in Security Council deliberations and communications across post-Soviet states.
6. Spanish
   • Adopted: 1945 (as one of the original languages)
   • Regions Represented: Latin America, Spain, and parts of the Caribbean.
   • Reason for Inclusion: Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages globally, representing a vast cultural and linguistic community across multiple continents.
   • Use: Prominently used in General Assembly debates and official UN publications.

Working Languages of the UN Secretariat

While the United Nations recognises six official languages, only English and French are designated as the working languages of the UN Secretariat.This means that internal administrative and operational communications within the organisation primarily take place in these two languages.
However, all six official languages are used in meetings, debates, and publications to ensure fairness and accessibility for all member states.

Translation and Interpretation

To maintain linguistic equality, the UN employs professional translators and interpreters across its major offices. These experts provide:

• Simultaneous interpretation during meetings of the General Assembly, Security Council, and Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
• Translation of official documents, resolutions, and reports into all six official languages.

The UN’s interpretation services are considered among the most advanced in the world, ensuring that every delegate can communicate in and understand their preferred official language.

Importance of Multilingualism

Multilingualism is one of the core values of the United Nations. It promotes:

• Equality among member states, ensuring that no language group has an unfair advantage.
• Cultural diversity and inclusivity, reflecting the UN’s commitment to global representation.
• Access to information, allowing people across different linguistic communities to engage with the organisation’s work.
• Diplomatic accuracy, reducing misunderstandings in international dialogue.

The UN actively encourages its employees and diplomats to learn multiple official languages through training and educational programmes.

Implementation and Challenges

While multilingualism is central to the UN’s identity, maintaining it poses significant challenges:

• Cost: Translation and interpretation require vast resources and skilled personnel.
• Consistency: Ensuring accurate translations across complex legal and technical texts demands high precision.
• Technology: The UN increasingly relies on digital translation tools and terminology databases to improve efficiency.