Abstract Multilingualism is of central importance for the human experience of alterity in culture and scholarship. In this discussion, Carolin Krahn and Jürgen Trabant explore the challenges and benefits of multilingualism in academia, especially in the humanities. The dominance of the English language in global academic life is addressed, as are the Bologna reform and the role of international research institutes such as the German Historical Institute. The dialogue illustrates the importance of language for intellectual life, addressing further topics ranging from Wilhelm von Humboldt and the city of Rome to the relationship between music and language and the question of European identity.