Die Sprache und der Binnenmarkt im Europa der EU: eine kleine Beziehungsaufstellung in 10 Punkten

“Language and Markets” is the topic of this article, which examines theirrelationship in ten short points. Specifically, it addresses the interrelationshipbetween res publica (the state), lingua (the language) and forum (the market).The establishment of both the res publica and the forum has often led to adecrease in linguistic diversity. At least, this is true if one considers the buildingof nation states. However, the same does not apply to European reality, despitethe fact that the EU has succeeded in establishing an efficient forum and acommon res publica. The article goes on to explore the general state of thephenomena of linguae, both in the European res publicae and in the Europeanforum. It then explores the legal implications for national language policies whenconfronted with the four market freedoms in the European forum in detail. Itconcludes that the European forum does not seriously threaten Europeanlinguistic diversity, since a considerable degree of flexibility exists. In thisrespect the European res publica can learn from the European forum since thethe former includes 20 official languages and preaches a rigid language systemwhich will need some adaptation without putting linguistic diversity at risk. Theauthor ends by stating that in the context of the very specific European“demoicracy” (a intertwined set of many democracies), market forces will notbring about the end of Europe’s linguistic diversity. Rather Europe will continueto offer a combination of a rather unique degree of economic unity with a ratherunique degree of linguistic diversity.