German as the common language is key for all people living in Germany to take part in society. It is indispensable to ensure communication on an equal playing field. But language is more than a means of communication. It also is a cultural asset reflected in poetry and literature that enables people to access the culture and society of a country. Teaching language and promoting language acquisition is one of the core responsibilities of the education system, which is assisted by the language-learning culture in society and the public domain.
At the same time, multilingualism is something to be truly treasured. People who can communicate and express themselves in different languages can build bridges and enable access. The mastery of several languages is proof of cultural wealth, requires appreciation and must be encouraged to a greater extent. This also applies to the minority and regional languages recognised in Germany. Especially with a view to globalisation, which also means that people from Germany live temporarily abroad or people from abroad who stay in Germany for a while, multilingualism is a great asset. At the same time, the non-verbal forms of expression, which have a rule book of their own as is the case in sport, music, dance, etc., must not be ignored either.