Promoting a "personal adoptive language" strengthens multilingualism and intercultural dialogue, concludes the EC group of intellectuals

"The approach advocated by the Group of Intellectuals will trigger debate in this year of intercultural dialogue", said Commissioner Leonard Orban. "The proposals submitted are in tune with the wish expressed by EU heads of state and government in Barcelona in 2002 to include 'mother tongue plus two' languages in EU education. A good knowledge of other languages builds bridges and promotes understanding between cultures."

The personal adoptive language is already a reality for a growing number of EU citizens who identify with another language on a personal, cultural or professional level.

Two main points can be identified from the proposals.

1) Bilateral relations between the EU countries should hinge on the languages of the two countries involved rather than on a third language. Each country should have enough proficient speakers of the others' languages.

2) The EU should promote the concept of a “personal adoptive language”, to be seen as a “second mother tongue” with every European citizen being motivated to learn one. It would need to be part and parcel of everyone’s school education/university studies and professional life, closely linked to aspects involving history, culture and literature. This adopted language would not normally be the one used for international communication.

To support these points, there are a number of practical considerations

1) Immigration has a growing impact on political, economic, social and intellectual life in Europe. For immigrants, the personal adoptive language would normally be the language of the country in which they have chosen to live.

2) The non-EU immigrants' own languages should be included in the languages which EU citizens would be encouraged to learn.

3) For those Europeans whose mother tongue occupies a dominant position in the world, acquiring a personal adoptive language would be particularly important, in order to avoid remaining isolated in monolingualism.

4) To ensure that this linguistic diversity is maintained countries should establish a common organisation entrusted with the task of promoting knowledge of each other's language and culture.


The full report of the Group of Intellectuals for Intercultural Dialogue is available in 22 languages at: http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/languages_en.html

For more information on the languages in the EU, see: http://europa.eu/languages/


[1] For the set up, see IP/07/972 from 29 June 2007