Idioms of Multiculturalism, Multilingualism and Intercomprehension in the European Union

Abstract

Europe is a continent of different and a big number of cultures, and on those basis is founded the European Union, as a unity of different nationalities, religions, cultural background, and a fundamental and the most important part of every ones identity is the language. Today Europe is home of millions of people which not only have their origins from Europe, but also is a home of many people who are forming two main groups of minorities, the emigrant minority and the regional minority. A functional multilingual and multicultural society requires willingness on the behalf on the linguistic participating groups to make compromises and to accept some linguistic standardization. Plurilingualism and intercomprehension are concepts of particular importance in the multilingual and multicultural European context. These are the main aims and requirements of the European Union when identifying and pursuing the fundamental objectives, which are done by promoting the definition of respecting cultural diversity and establishing a single ‘European identity’. Inter comprehension, plurilingualism, intercultural communicative competence and democratic citizenship are concepts of particular importance in the multilingual and multicultural European context also. The European Union and the Council of Europe have identified and pursued the political objectives of social cohesion, by promoting the definition of a European social identity, which respects the diversity of national identities.

DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2012.v2n4p39