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Ministers' Dossier

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European Linguistic Diversity 

Linguistic diversity is considered as a European added value. The protection of Europe's multilingual character is the first step towards the protection and the enhancement of its cultural diversity. In this framework special care should be taken for the promotion of the less spoken languages in Europe.

The European Union has been doing a great deal for the preservation and promotion of less spoken languages. The efforts concentrate of the languages of minorities, both those with or without a so-called mother country. Cultural minorities being an important issue for most new member states, the language policy activities of the EU will certainly follow and intensify this legacy.

The concept of less spoken languages should also be applied to those languages that are dominant in their own sphere, however, "minoritarian" among the 450 million Europeans. Slovenian, Latvian or Finnish etc. are also worthy and in need of protection, especially by cultural means.

This is also acknowledged by the Union. The Commission gives considerable support to the subtitling of films. The Culture 2000 programme, in its capacity as the successor of the Ariane programme, funds the translation of a few hundred European literary works each year. Both practices are extremely valuable and should be continued after 2007.

To remain in the field of publishing: by the selective method of support by title, a tiny share of the market of translated literature can be covered only. With appropriate selection procedure, the most valuable segment of titles, publishers and translators can be reached and supported. Singling out the best few is not enough to turn the tide, or to slow its advance. The statistics of the book markets in Europe indicate a steady growth of titles translated from the English language. Not denying the services that this lingua franca does for the quick dissemination of thoughts and ideas in our world, the phenomenon works against the ideal of linguistic diversity.

The ideal of linguistic diversity supposes a fair balance by the original language (where the notion of source language applies), on the markets of intellectual, artistic and other creative products. Europe should feel concern for the sustainable share of works that originate from lesser translated source languages. To use a specific approximation: any book that has been translated from a language that represents less than five percent in a given market, deserves protection eo ipso, by its nature. The principle can be expressed in various ways, referring to films, theatre pieces, news items, articles in journals, lyrics of songs, items of e-content etc.

A principle of giving support to lesser used source languages in culture is primarily a national concern. Member states apply mechanisms to promote translation and dissemination from their own languages. These deserve more systematic community support in the future. In addition, incentives should be devised for segments of cultural industries to diversify their offer by source language. More broadly, the very existence of cultural industries (electronic media, publishing etc.) in small languages justifies structural support. The concept of linguistic diversity calls for the strategic involvement of the cultural industries, both on national and on European level.