ABSTRACT
The great diversity of language and culture in a European Union of 27 member states within a continent of 45 nations presents great challenges for territorial cooperation. Williams (1996: 58) gives a typical example. He explains how a German-speaking conference participant asked a British speaker: ‘Is there a plan for this project?’ The response was long and complicated and left the questioner confused. The reason is that the use of the word plan has very different meanings in the UK and Germany. In Germany the legally binding plan effectively determines and gives permission for certain forms of development. In the UK the plan provides criteria to judge proposals but does not give permission. The British speaker did not understand the question properly. What the questioner meant (in the UK sense) was ‘Does this project have permission?’ This example illustrates how language, society and culture (including institutional and planning culture) are interdependent and difficult to separate. Aspects of society including planning practices and tools may only make sense in the home context and language.
