. The adoptionof one international auxiliary language would not only reduce expensesand administrative work but would also do much to foster the spirit ofunity.
. This suggestionshould be correctly understood: in no way would it aim to undermine ordestroy any one living language or culture.
"On the question of an international language ...As Bahá'íswe hope that an international auxiliary language will be adopted as soonas possible; but we are not proponents of any one particular language.If the governments of the world would agree on an existing language orthe creation of a new language, we would support either decision withoutreservations, for we wish to see that this step towards the unificationof mankind is taken as quickly as possible." Shoghi Effendi, Directivesof the Guardian, New Delhi, 1973, p. 39. In this suggestion we place emphasison the word "auxiliary". The Bahá'í Teachings cherish andpromote cultural diversity, not uniformity. We do not envisage at thistime the introduction worldwide of a single language. Rather the peoplesand nations of the world should retain their own local or national languages,while at the same time being encouraged to learn one universal language,a language that should be taught as an obligatory subject in all the schoolsof the world. In pursuing this goal, the legitimate expression of nationaland local cultural variety should in no way be inhibited. "The day is approaching when all the peoples of the world will have adoptedone universal language and one common script", wrote Bahá'u'lláhin the seventies of the last century. "When this is achieved, to whatsoevercity a man may journey, it shall be as if he were entering his own home."Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, New Delhi, 1994,Section 117:1.
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