Association
ELAMA was founded on Jan. 23, 1999, in the presence of nine founding members from six universities in four countries.
The main impetus in creating ELAMA was the need to support and to promote actively European perspectives on the languages and cultures of Europe and to foster a feeling of togetherness and European identity (cf. Theses 7 and 8). These goals are a necessity in the days of ethnic cleansing and linguistic contacts and conflicts. The science of language, together with other disciplines in the humanities, can contribute substantially to human unity and European identity.
By holding Eurolinguistic meetings and workshops in the Mannheim/Heidelberg area, and also organising Eurolinguistic symposia in other cities and countries, the Association will build a platform for a Europe-wide view of the languages of Europe (cf. Thesis 20). Therefore, contacts have been established with international centres of linguistic research on things European (cf. Thesis 18).
Eurolinguistics is instrumental in breaking down national bias and ethnic discrimination (cf. Theses 9 and 10). In so doing, it serves peace research and fosters understanding in Europe and those parts of the world where European languages play an active role in the communication between diverse peoples (Theses 11 and 12).