Comments on: Could the Business Language of the Future Change? http://teacherindevelopment.blogsome.com/2007/08/27/could-the-business-language-of-the-future-change/ The life and times of an English teacher in Mexico City Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:04:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: Alex Case http://teacherindevelopment.blogsome.com/2007/08/27/could-the-business-language-of-the-future-change/#comment-602 Fri, 12 Oct 2007 21:43:25 +0100 http://teacherindevelopment.blogsome.com/2007/08/27/could-the-business-language-of-the-future-change/#comment-602 You are never going to find non-native Chinese speakers all over the world using Chinese to ease communication in the way that they now use English. In English you can leave the tricky bits like phrasal verbs, the "th" sounds and perfecting your spelling till later. In Chinese you have to use Chinese characters and tones from day one. There is also an inherent contradiction in the argument "English is not going to stay the world language because not so many people it as a 1st language". Not that many people have ever spoken it as a first language, but there it is still being used by Brazilians to communicate with Czechs and what have you. Other advantages English has: -It is already a world language that many people see as a 2nd language for everyone rather than as something that native speakers own, so that rabid anti-Americans can still learn and use it -It is connected by grammar and vocab to other European languages, which collectively have more speakers, are more well-spread and are studied by more people as a 2nd language than Chinese -If you ask what 2nd language rather than what 1st language the candidates to knock America off the top spot speak, the answer is everytime English rather than Chinese or Spanish, India being the biggest example -Take a graph of the number of people starting English as a 2nd language classes in the world and put it next to a graph of the number of people starting Chinese etc. as a 2nd language classes and see if you can make a realistic model that sees the position changing. I think not. TEFLtastic blog- "All the truth that's fit to teach"- www.tefl.net/alexcase You are never going to find non-native Chinese speakers all over the world using Chinese to ease communication in the way that they now use English. In English you can leave the tricky bits like phrasal verbs, the “th” sounds and perfecting your spelling till later. In Chinese you have to use Chinese characters and tones from day one.

There is also an inherent contradiction in the argument “English is not going to stay the world language because not so many people it as a 1st language”. Not that many people have ever spoken it as a first language, but there it is still being used by Brazilians to communicate with Czechs and what have you.

Other advantages English has:
-It is already a world language that many people see as a 2nd language for everyone rather than as something that native speakers own, so that rabid anti-Americans can still learn and use it
-It is connected by grammar and vocab to other European languages, which collectively have more speakers, are more well-spread and are studied by more people as a 2nd language than Chinese
-If you ask what 2nd language rather than what 1st language the candidates to knock America off the top spot speak, the answer is everytime English rather than Chinese or Spanish, India being the biggest example
-Take a graph of the number of people starting English as a 2nd language classes in the world and put it next to a graph of the number of people starting Chinese etc. as a 2nd language classes and see if you can make a realistic model that sees the position changing. I think not.

TEFLtastic blog- “All the truth that’s fit to teach”- www.tefl.net/alexcase

]]> by: Katie http://teacherindevelopment.blogsome.com/2007/08/27/could-the-business-language-of-the-future-change/#comment-595 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 02:59:43 +0100 http://teacherindevelopment.blogsome.com/2007/08/27/could-the-business-language-of-the-future-change/#comment-595 Interesting discussion...I can agree that English evolved into the current international language for economic reasons, but there are now so many people who use it just because it's the language to know...people from non-English-speaking countries do business in it. I still think everyone taking on Mandarin is unlikely. In Europe, for example, people may do business with all of their neighbors, and it is just easier for everyone to learn English than for one person in, say Slovakia, to learn German, Hungarian, and Ukrainian. Certainly it's a positive thing to learn the language of the country you do business with, but in a lot of cases people just learn English for that not because they think it's great that it's dominant but just because it's common. It's not that I can't imagine another language becoming more common at all - but I think it is more than just a matter of US economy at this point. Interesting discussion…I can agree that English evolved into the current international language for economic reasons, but there are now so many people who use it just because it’s the language to know…people from non-English-speaking countries do business in it. I still think everyone taking on Mandarin is unlikely. In Europe, for example, people may do business with all of their neighbors, and it is just easier for everyone to learn English than for one person in, say Slovakia, to learn German, Hungarian, and Ukrainian.

Certainly it’s a positive thing to learn the language of the country you do business with, but in a lot of cases people just learn English for that not because they think it’s great that it’s dominant but just because it’s common. It’s not that I can’t imagine another language becoming more common at all - but I think it is more than just a matter of US economy at this point.

]]> by: Aaron Nelson http://teacherindevelopment.blogsome.com/2007/08/27/could-the-business-language-of-the-future-change/#comment-594 Sun, 02 Sep 2007 20:58:19 +0100 http://teacherindevelopment.blogsome.com/2007/08/27/could-the-business-language-of-the-future-change/#comment-594 Future Spanish Teacher, Thanks for your comments. I'm thinking the same as you: it's sorta about domination and money, don't you think? And if you study history...or even have a passing glance at it, you'll see a disturbing trend: great empires have a habit of falling away. Thinking about expanding into other major languages:namely mandarin, feels like a daunting task, but a wise one to begin thinking and planning about to be competitive in the future. My humble opinion. Future Spanish Teacher,
Thanks for your comments. I’m thinking the same as you: it’s sorta about domination and money, don’t you think? And if you study history…or even have a passing glance at it, you’ll see a disturbing trend: great empires have a habit of falling away. Thinking about expanding into other major languages:namely mandarin, feels like a daunting task, but a wise one to begin thinking and planning about to be competitive in the future. My humble opinion.

]]> by: Future Spanish Teacher http://teacherindevelopment.blogsome.com/2007/08/27/could-the-business-language-of-the-future-change/#comment-592 Sun, 02 Sep 2007 11:18:39 +0100 http://teacherindevelopment.blogsome.com/2007/08/27/could-the-business-language-of-the-future-change/#comment-592 I think eventually English will fade in importance. English rose out of its speakers' domination in world economy. A combination of British Imperialism (for Economic gain, mostly) and the rise of the United STates (originally proprietary colonies, mostly) has staked English on the far points of the globe. So, as China becomes an economic powerhouse, it's only natural to expect that Mandarin and even Cantonese will bleed into daily life. I also think it's proper for a business exec, or anyone doing business with someone of another language, learn at least to function in that language. Regardless of its usefulness in the business interaction, it's a formal gesture to say that Language won't be a barrier, let's break bread. Oh, and English is an annoying language anyway. I won't miss it :) I think eventually English will fade in importance. English rose out of its speakers’ domination in world economy. A combination of British Imperialism (for Economic gain, mostly) and the rise of the United STates (originally proprietary colonies, mostly) has staked English on the far points of the globe. So, as China becomes an economic powerhouse, it’s only natural to expect that Mandarin and even Cantonese will bleed into daily life.

I also think it’s proper for a business exec, or anyone doing business with someone of another language, learn at least to function in that language. Regardless of its usefulness in the business interaction, it’s a formal gesture to say that Language won’t be a barrier, let’s break bread.

Oh, and English is an annoying language anyway. I won’t miss it :)

]]> by: Aaron Nelson http://teacherindevelopment.blogsome.com/2007/08/27/could-the-business-language-of-the-future-change/#comment-591 Sat, 01 Sep 2007 08:55:59 +0100 http://teacherindevelopment.blogsome.com/2007/08/27/could-the-business-language-of-the-future-change/#comment-591 Thanks Katie, I too really think the whole honesty bit needs to be examined more by ESL schools. There are plenty of places that promise to make you bilingual in a year around here (Mexico City) and well...I just know that ain't happening! I guess it sorta depends what your definition of bilingual is eh? Thanks Katie,
I too really think the whole honesty bit needs to be examined more by ESL schools. There are plenty of places that promise to make you bilingual in a year around here (Mexico City) and well…I just know that ain’t happening! I guess it sorta depends what your definition of bilingual is eh?

]]> by: Katie http://teacherindevelopment.blogsome.com/2007/08/27/could-the-business-language-of-the-future-change/#comment-590 Fri, 31 Aug 2007 23:40:36 +0100 http://teacherindevelopment.blogsome.com/2007/08/27/could-the-business-language-of-the-future-change/#comment-590 Ha - good point about honesty in "how long will it take" - a lot of students have unrealistic ideas, as do plenty of native English speakers about learning a language. You know, there is definitely the possibility that the importance of English will go down, especially if those from English-speaking countries start learning Mandarin. I'm not sure if that will happen though, and it's also connected with people who have already spent years learning English taking on another language. But then again you never know - China is gaining more and more influence. Ha - good point about honesty in “how long will it take” - a lot of students have unrealistic ideas, as do plenty of native English speakers about learning a language.

You know, there is definitely the possibility that the importance of English will go down, especially if those from English-speaking countries start learning Mandarin. I’m not sure if that will happen though, and it’s also connected with people who have already spent years learning English taking on another language.

But then again you never know - China is gaining more and more influence.

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