LANGUAGE POLICY OF EUROPE: PLURILINGUISM

Abstract

In the course of its contemporary development Europe has become a conglomerate of national sovereign states. As for the development of European languages within this context, it is noticeable that the language dynamics has the characteristics of its own in a modern world. The languages have been coming into contact at more regular basis recently thus turning all societies and communities into cosmopolitan and multilingual millieu.Such circumstances impose the need to put in use some of the languages to become common communication means regardless of their own geographical boundaries. As widely known, the tendency has been to use English as a global communication language for the past five decades. However, the Europeans dislike the idea of that language becoming a sole indispensable means of communication in their contacts. Europe is such a union that it cannot allow itself to immolate its linguistic diversity but should rather ensure its survival. The only reasonable solution this issue is to provide every European citizen with a possibility to learn English as a global communication language fromthevery start of his/her school years and also study one or more other European languages becoming a competent plurilinguis. The diversity should be the foundation for building European identity and culture, which would then justify the creation of some kind of supranational identity.The attitudes and standpoints of European citizens should be modelled from their early age on. Advancement in that regard will turn foreign language learning into a perosnal development and contribution to European solidarity. Jean Monnet, of the principal founders of European unity, said that if he should start anew he would have begun with Europe of Culture, and not Europe of Economy. Led by his words, we may conclude that our successful future strenghtening of Europe of tommorow lies in building Europe of Education.