Communication is an integral part of any interaction. It would not be an overstatement to say that businesses work upon good communication foundations to drive development and growth. Communication allows us to share feelings, thoughts, stories, and experiences, and it is not exclusive to only one language. There are more than 6000 languages spoken worldwide, and because of this reason, multi-lingual communication is required for business in reaching global customers.
English is the standard language for corporate communication. Business English is an essential skill that is demanded from the workforce in every company. That’s why various helpful courses for business communication are offered online – both for written and verbal communication. It is the corporate language because it is the official language of several countries. If not all, it still finds its place as the secondary language.
There are several reasons behind the need for multi-lingual communication in business.
The world speaks many languages.
As mentioned earlier, there are more than 6000 languages in the world. The world speaks different languages; English might seem like the largest spoken language globally, but in reality, Chinese Mandarin and Spanish rank as the most spoken language. English is the third most spoken language globally because many countries offer it as a secondary language in business or education. Mandarin and Spanish have the largest native speakers, whereas English has the largest non-primary speakers globally. Given the world’s diversity, if businesses have to prosper, they have to be inclusive rather than exclusive in the language department.
Globalization
Businesses are going global; they are not limited to a single region now. Growth and opportunities have crossed the borders. There is diversity at the global level, and if businesses have to thrive, they have to embrace the local culture. A global business catering to diverse customers with diverse preferences calls for a diverse mentality at all levels.
Communication
In business, communication happens at all levels; stakeholders and the officials, officials and the workforce, between the workforces, company and the customers, and company and the masses. Therefore, it is parochial to communicate in a standard language. Multi-lingual communication will foster better relationships among the workforce and the customers. It will motivate the workforce to contribute to the growth of the business. It will also eliminate misunderstandings in communication and will help customers understand products and services better.
Encouraging Multi-lingual Communication in Business
Several improvements can be made for the proper integration of multi-lingual communication in businesses.
- Hiring multi-lingual employees as they will deliver the best of both or many cultures.
- Workshops on multi-lingual communication.
- Fostering a multi-lingual environment in business.
Key takeaways
Multi-lingual communication does not mean that one can do away with English in the communication sphere. English as a corporate language cannot be replaced, at least not yet. Business English will remain as important as any other language for a company’s success and reach a global audience.
