We are dismayed to hear of proposals to cut the staff in modern languages at Swansea University by more than half. What is the problem you British have with learning the languages of your European neighbours? Why is this area being singled out for the first, biggest, fastest cuts? As German-language writers and poets, our particular concern is for the university's Centre for Contemporary German Literature. Founded in 1993, it has greatly increased awareness in the English-speaking world of the work of many living German writers. The studies published by Swansea academics have had international impact – even in Germany and Austria. Swansea is a flagship centre for German-British cultural understanding. Reducing the number of staff in German by half will put this excellent institution at risk.
Zdenka Becker, St Pölten
Jörg Bernig, Dresden
Volker Braun, Berlin
Esther Dischereit, Berlin
Ulrike Draesner, Berlin
Herbert Grönemeyer, Berlin
Elfriede Jelinek, Vienna, Nobel prize for literature 2004
Christian Kracht, Buenos Aires
Herta Müller, Berlin, Nobel prize for literature 2009
Albert Ostermaier, Munich
Peter Schneider, Berlin
Günter Senkel, Kiel
Zafer Senocak, Berlin
Ilija Trojanow, Vienna
Feridun Zaimoglu, Kiel