How many official languages does the United Nations utilize for its official documentation, meetings, and proceedings?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. 6 languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish)
- Step 1: The UN Charter was originally drawn up and signed in five official languages: Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.
- Step 2: In December 1973, the General Assembly adopted Arabic as an official and working language, establishing the six official languages used in all formal plenary debates and documents.
Answer
6 languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish)
Why not the others: '4 languages (English, French, Spanish, Russian)' Arabic was added to the official languages in 1973; Chinese was an official language from the founding in 1945; '5 languages (English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese)' Arabic was added as the sixth official language of the General Assembly in 1973 and the Security Council in 1982; '8 languages (adding German and Hindi)' While German is used for some translated documents via a special trust fund, German and Hindi are not official UN languages.
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