Studia Translatorica

The term ‘multilingualism’ means that one learns and is being taught different languages in an integrative way (not separately from one another). Therefore, the continuous, life-long learning (and cultivation) of one’s mother tongue should be perceived as crucial. Our mother tongues reflect traditions, history and value systems. They are also the very first tool of communication that we acquire. They enable us to explore and name the world and its phenomena. In language communities and communities of given countries, they are also recognized and used as official languages, languages of science and of instruction. Other languages are acquired on the basis of them. Therefore, any language politics should always pay particular attention to continuous cultivation of mother tongues. As a result, the perception of multilingualism should resemble that of multiculturalism. Languages should be taught and acquired in communicative linguistic and cultural communities in an integrative, equal and simultaneous way, with the use of adstrate elements and taking into consideration trans-relations between languages.