A European conversation

European commentators, and perhaps particularly French ones, tend to argue that the increasing dominance of the English language and cultural products in English is destructive of national cultures and could even, in the long term, lead to the disappearance of many weaker languages.

At a seminar entitled Let's Talk European organised last year by signandsight.com, an alternative view was advanced. "The internet and the use of English," said Dutch journalist Gerbert van Loenen, "enable us to know what other people from minority languages in Europe are writing and thinking . . . using English actually liberates us from the dominance of the Anglo-Saxon media. It's a paradox, but it's true."

"Even debate in the English-speaking world is in danger of becoming provincial if Europe doesn't do its part," writes Thierry Chervel in signandsight's manifesto. German newspapers, he believes, have the most interesting feuilletons (cultural and opinion pages) in the world. Gathering together the best German cultural and political writing, together with essays originally published in little-taught languages such as Swedish, Polish and Hungarian, signandsight.com aims to contribute to the development of a vital and inclusive European cultural space.