European Day of Languages

European Day of Languages History

The European Day of Languages (EDL) is aimed at promoting linguistic diversity, fostering multilingualism, and encouraging language learning across Europe. This initiative emphasizes the importance of tolerance and mutual understanding among the member states of the European Union, while highlighting Europe's rich and diverse languages. The European Day of Languages aims to address the cultural, intellectual, and economic benefits of learning and speaking multiple languages.

The Council of Europe first introduced the European Day of Languages in 2001 during the European Year of Languages, a joint initiative with the European Union. Its goal was to raise awareness about the vast array of languages spoken throughout Europe, and to emphasize the need for all individuals to be equipped with linguistic skills to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. For the European Union, EDL not only fosters cultural exchange and understanding but also plays a crucial role in enhancing labor mobility and economic growth within the single market.

EDL is observed with a wide range of events and activities focusing on language education and cross-cultural communication, such as workshops, language classes, exhibitions, and online resources. Educational institutions, cultural organizations, and the general public take part in various initiatives to celebrate linguistic diversity and to learn about the value of speaking more than one language. European Day of Languages falls on the 26th of September each year.

Top facts and quotes about European Day of Languages

• English is the most widely spoken (38%) foreign language in Europe.
  
• 98% of people in Luxembourg can speak more than one language. However the lowest numbers in Europe are found in Ireland, Portugal and the UK, where only 60 and 61%, respectively, of the population can speak a second language.
• If you talk to a man in a language that he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his hears. - Nelson Mandela
• One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way. ‒Frank Smith

In the News and Trending for European Day of Languages

European Day of Languages Top Things to Do

• Start learning a new language, there are dozens of online courses and mobile apps such as, Duolingo, Byki or BBC Languages. Local schools and colleges often run affordable face-to-face classes too.
• Check out the European Day of Languages website for games, quizzes and trivia to practice different languages. edl.ecml.at/
• Watch a film that touches on cross-cultural and interlinguistic communication: Our favourites are Spanglish (2004) abdBon Cop, Bad Cop (2006).
• Read some literature in another language. Most translations lose some of the original meaning and feeling of the work. So, be brave, use a a dictionary on an online translator such as Google or Universal Translator to read some of your favourite works in their original languages. Some of our favourite classics are:
  Spanish: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
  French: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
  Russian: The Queen of Spades by Alexander Pushkin
  German: The Metamorphosis by Frank Kafka
• Languages impact every aspect of life from education to social structure to culinary choices so try making some new food from a country whose language you do not speak. Have you tried falafel from the Middle East, paneer from India, or borsch from Eastern Europe?