European Day of Languages

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European Year of Languages 2001 and European Day of Languages official logo

Chameleon, a symbol for multilingualism developed for European Year of Languages 2001 and European Day of Languages

September 26 was proclaimed European Day of Languages by the Council of Europe, with the support of European Union, on December 6, 2001, at the end of European Year of Languages 2001. [1] Its aim is to encourage language learning across Europe.

The general objectives of the European Day of Languages are to:

alert the public to the importance of language learning and diversify the range of languages learned in order to increase plurilingualism and intercultural understanding;
promote the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe;
encourage lifelong language learning in and out of school.

In keeping with these aims, people, young and old, are encouraged to take up a language, or take special pride in their existing language skills. Also, those responsible for providing access to language learning are encouraged to make it easier for people to learn a range of languages, and to support policy initiatives to promote languages. There is also emphasis on learning a language other than English.

On the occasion of the day, a range of events are organised across Europe [2] [3], including happenings for children, television and radio programmes, language classes and conferences. The events are not organised by the Council of Europe or the European Union nor do they allocate special funding (i.e. apart from their existing language programmes) for the day. Member states and potential partners are given a free hand to organise activities. To coordinate the activities organised at national level, the Council of Europe asks participating countries to nominate "National Relay Persons" for the day.

There are about 225 indigenous languages in Europe – roughly 3% of the world's total. Most of the European languages are of Indo-European origin. With immigrants and refugees, Europe has become more multilingual. In London alone some 300 languages are spoken (Arabic, Turkish, Kurdish, Berber, Hindi, Punjabi etc.).

According to European Union's survey "Europeans and their Languages" ("Special Eurobarometer 243", February 2006) [4], 56% of EU citizens (25 member states) speak a language other than their mother tongue, but 44% of admit to not knowing any other languages than their native language. However, 28% master two foreign languages. 38% of the EU citizens indicate that they know English, followed by 14% mastering French or German. The typical multilingual European is a student or holds a managerial position or was born in a country where a different language is spoken from the language of his/her parents.

The European Union adheres to a policy of multilingualism, both at its institutional workings and as an aim for its citizens. At the 2002 EU summit in Barcelona, it set a target for children to learn at least two foreign languages from an early age [5]. Multilingualism for the EU is linked to worker mobility and the European economy.

The European Union invests more than €30 million a year promoting language learning and linguistic diversity through the Socrates and Leonardo da Vinci programmes, a policy that began with the pioneering Lingua programme in 1990.