Towards a Multilingual Culture of Education   Ed.: Adama Ouane UIE 2003 - 469 p. ISBN 92-820-1131-3  Price: € 12,00 / US$ 12,00 1157 kB This book, bringing together contributions from many different parts of the world, seeks to demonstrate the normality of multilingualism and to question the teaching/learning systems which are grounded on the principle of monolingualism. The study is both theoretical and empirical. Investigations carried out in 30 African, Asian and Latin American countries bear witness to the often striking failure of linguistic policies inherited from the colonial era. Although the authors do not deny the influence of these policies, they uphold plurilingualism as a natural state in human society and strongly recommend the use of local languages and mother tongues in formal and non-formal education. Without attempting to conceal the cultural, political and linguistic problems linked to such an approach, this book highlights the numerous advantages it would bring: laying a sound basis for future learning as well as preserving the identity of communities, their cultural wealth and diversity. This study addresses not only linguists and decision-makers but also field workers and teachers who are confronted daily with the consequences of the „single language“ dogma.