”Language is as important to human beings as water is to fish. Yet, it often seems that we go through life as unaware of language as we suppose the average fish is of the water it swims in. We just use language, without having a clear idea of how our lives and relationships are shaped by and through it. If it is poisoned, we may feel sick without knowing that it is poisoned language which makes us feel sick; if we are pushed in a certain direction without wanting to be, we may not know that language is pushing us in that direction” (van Lier, 1995, xi).

— Leo van Lier

“Amplify, Don´t Simplify!” (Walqui & van Lier, 2010, 38)

— Aída Walqui & Leo van Lier