700 Reasons: Reason #333
- Reason: 333
- English alone is not enough. In the face of such widespread acceptance and use of English the UK's complacent view of its limited capability in languages is understandable. It is also dangerous. In a world where bilingualism and plurilingualism are commonplace, monolingualism implies inflexibility, insensitivity and arrogance. Much that is essential to our society, its health and interests - including effective choice in policy, realisation of citizenship, effective overseas links and openness to the inventions of other cultures - will not be achieved in one language alone
- Reference:
- The Nuffield Languages Inquiry (2000) Languages: the next generation (London: The Nuffield Foundation)
- Related Keywords:
- Citizenship, Economic, social and political dimension, Global English, Inclusion, Intercultural competence, International relations, Multilingualism, UK, Values
700 Reasons to study languages...
