DCU hosts symposium on multilingualism in Europe - 10 and 11 April 2003
7 April 2003

The School of Applied Language and Intercultural Studies is hosting a symposium on multilingualism in Europe on Thursday 10 and Friday 11 April. The main speaker will be the internationally acclaimed linguist, Professor Hans Jürgen Krumm from the University of Vienna. The symposium will provide a timely opportunity for reflection on the role of multilingualism and language learning in a multicultural Ireland that is part of an increasingly integrated Europe.

The symposium opens on Thursday evening at 7pm in QG13 with a public lecture, followed by a panel discussion chaired by Professor Eda Sagarra, Chairperson of the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences.

In less than 18 months' time the population of the European Union will increase by approximately 30% due to enlargement. The pressing questions that arise as a result of this are: Which language or languages will in fifty years' time be spoken and written in the enlarged and integrated European Union? Will English have become even more prevalent than it is already? Will minority languages have become even further marginalised in the process of it? How will European citizens communicate in an emerging European public sphere? What kind of education do we as European citizens want to provide for our communication needs? Do we want to subscribe to a pragmatist ethos in language education that accepts the overpowering dominance of the global player English? Or do we want to adhere to a more principled ethos of plurilingual education that is in harmony with the basic European ideal of co-operation in equality? Europeans will need to find an answer to these questions in the next while.

Students, colleagues and members of the public are all most welcome to attend the symposium!

Ends

For further information please contact

Eileen Colgan7005656 or 087 7948929