And they spoke in a thousand languages…

Certainly, speaking could bring people together across linguistic boundaries. But does the willingness to talk to one another and engage with the unfamiliar not already presuppose a sense of language? How, then, can people communicate without the sensory experience of their own linguistic nature? And how can they open themselves up to the precious treasure of Europe’s cultural, ethnic and religious diversity if they have not positively explored and experienced their own identity-forming cultural roots?

Not only will no renewed language teaching encourage us to break free from this dramatically growing loss of speech; rather, the ever-increasing stimulation of our senses by a flood of images and sounds threatens to lead to the tragedy of ever more people falling silent.

What remarkable vitality and responsible maturity is expressed by the word spoken by an eloquent mouth: for it is only the marvellous world of one’s own linguistic ability that opens up the chance for freedom.

This lecture by and featuring the freelance philosopher Bertrand Stern is taking place as part of the 11th Long Night of Philosophy. Further information is available here.