Sep 26 - European Day of Languages

The first European Day of Languages took place on 26 September 2001. It was one of the highlights of the European Year of Languages.

The European Year of Languages 2001, jointly organised by the Council of Europe and the European Union was successful in involving millions of people across 45 participating countries. Its activities celebrated linguistic diversity in Europe and promoted language learning.

Not only does the English Language borrow words from other languages, it sometimes chases them down dark alleys, hits them over the head, and goes through their pockets. (English)

Die Grenzen meiner Sprache bedeuten die Grenzen meiner Welt. (The limits of my language are the limits of my universe). German

Con cada lengua que se extingue se borra una imagen del hombre. (For every language that becomes extinct, an image of man disappears). Spanish - Octavio Paz

Il faut tourner sa langue sept fois dans sa bouche avant de parler. (One must turn the tongue seven times in the mouth before speaking (i.e. think before you speak!). French

Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon. (A nation without a language is a nation without a heart). Welsh

Kolik jazyků znáš, tolikrát jsi člověkem. (You live a new life for every new language you speak.If you know only one language, you live only once). Czech

Bir dil bir insan, iki dil iki insan. (One who speaks only one language is one person, but one who speaks two languages is two people). Turkish

Tr gan teanga, tr gan anam. (A country without a language is a country without a soul.) Irish Gaelic

Chan fhiach cuirm gun a cmhradh.(A feast is no use without good talk). Gaelic

Minha pátria é a Língua portuguesa ( My country is the Portuguese Language) - Fernando Pessoa - Portuguese