The question of multilingualism within the European Union and the status of English after Brexit

Absztrakt (kivonat)

Within the language policy of the European Union (EU), this thesis primarily focuses on the question of multilingualism, whether it is a duty of the EU to maintain it and whether this linguistic system is worth it at all. Then the essay intents to look for reasons why. It speculates on other linguistic alternatives and examines them from a practical point of view as well. While studying the possible outcomes of a new language policy, the role of English inevitably became a focal point. After seeing how English became extraordinarily widespread on the globe, the paper sheds light on its strange position in the EU after the occurrence of the Brexit referendum. Different theories surround its future within the Union. Even its form of use opened new topics of debate. This essay shows why multilingualism is essential for the language policy of the EU and whether it can be sustained. Moreover, it intends to find the role of English in this system of multilingualism and to give reasons on its future perspectives within the European Union.