1. Culture in crisis: Babel or monolingualism?
Marc Delbarge
Lessius University College, Antwerp
College of Europe, Bruges

2. I. Europe as a multilingual and multicultural macrocosm in crisis?
If Belgium can’t survive, what hope for the European Union? Belgium is failing because there are no real Belgians, just as there are no real Europeans. Rather, there are different peoples, with their own languages, cultures, television stations and political parties. A democracy without a demos – the unit with which we identify when we use the word “we” – is left only with kratos: the power of a system that compels by force of law what it cannot ask in name of patriotism. And kratos alone cannot sustain a state. (Daniel Hannan, The Telegraph)

3. II. Linguistic situation within the EU
Linguistic diversity and democracy
European identity and multicultural environment
Figures and data. The case of gaelic.

4. III. Multilingualism and translation/interpretation
Official multilingualism
Gabriel de Fragnière: cultural functions of language
Translations/ interpretations
Network
Infrastructure
Financial costs

5. IV. Babel, monolingualism or a multilingual communication system?
Dream and reality: English as lingua franca
European culture in crisis: efficiency >< democracy
Cases: Latin - Spanish and Portuguese – French
The case of English: intrinsic and extrinsic reasons

6. Figures and data within the European Union
‘Globish’
Challenged by Mandarin, Hindi, Arabic, Spanish?
English and the danger of fragmentation
English and its old and / or new standard
‘Eurospeak’
Figures and data within the European Union
European institutions and the working language(s)
French Government and its language policy

7. English as the only lingua franca ?
Control of the language market
Translation/interpretation costs
Investments in Education system
Effort to learn foreign languages
Position of the non-native speakers
English as a type of Esperanto
Democratic deficit: Eurocrats
Monolithic way of thinking
Professional future of lecturers
Professional future of students

8. Conclusions ‘Globish’ and ‘eurospeak’ are reality!
The need of quality translations/interpretations!
Cf. Esperanza Bielsa
European culture in crisis = a challenge !