EUMC - equalvoices 05 eumc . conference report . Europeans often believe that it is normal to communicate in one language only. The polyglots amongst us therefore are the rule rather than the exception. Every language has its own ways to mirror the world.
Every language is the product of a specific history.
Linguistic diversity Europe has been, is and will always be a continent of linguistic diversity. All European citizens should be given a life-long opportunity to learn languages. The joy of learning a foreign language promotes tolerance and understanding between persons of different linguistic and cultural backgrounds. The activities offered throughout the European Year of Languages are therefore to inform the individual citizen about the ways in which he or she can benefit from greater linguistic proficiency - socially as well as culturally and economically. After the opening of the European Year of Languages, which took place in February in the Swedish city of Lund, a booklet will be published in April 2001 to offer suggestions for people who want to learn other languages.