Do you need languages for business?

[NSL-Andy]

As a language provider, we were wondering how many businesses actually use languages to there full potential.

Do you speak the language of your foreign suppliers, or foreign clients?

Do you think you would be able to reach more suppliers or clients in a global marketplace if you spoke another language (or 2 or 3)?

Do you believe that other nations should learn to speak English instead?

Any feedback on this would be really useful to help us tailor our services to meet the needs of our clients.

Thanks
Andy

 

[Eagle]

Do you interpret alien languages? Some clients, I swear, are Martian...

 

[viperek]

Well most of suppliers and manufacturers speak english... So if You do buy from them they expect You to speak english. Its a prime business langauge. I wouldnt do any business with someone who cant speak english.

 

[jennyprice]

it is a very good piont you raise.
We deal with China and we find the speaking to them over the phone is a little bit hard.
So we send each other e-mails.
This way it is very easy to communicate as their writing is more clear then their speach.

 

[Vicarious]

We deal with most countries in Europe and we have English, French, Italian, Polish and German plus we can call on Russian.

However we seldom use it, the vast majority of our customers come to us speaking English. In fact we only seem to use it regularly to deal with 3rd parties where we have a customer with a language problem

My problem with language training is lets say I wanted to learn Spanish. I would do it for fun but the barrier to getting good enough to be useful seems insurmountable.

 

[NSL-Andy]

Thanks everyone - I'd still love to hear more opinions.

Viperek - we do hear this a lot when we pitch language training, but we think this statement works both ways, if every other nationality out there held the same view, then there would be no international trade!
Are you missing out on international trade, because you're not prepared to show willing?

Vicarious - Do you look at employing people who have language skills? Do your job descriptions require some form of language training for you employ someone?

We have had clients that have had short tailor-made courses, who do not want to learn to become fluent (yes - this does take years to do properly). They have had courses that focus on learning key words and phrases specific to their business, so they can break down barriers and 'show willing'. They have reported greater success when they can at least greet clients/suppliers in their own language, and are prepared to go that little bit further for a client, by learning just a little of their language.

 

[Vicarious]

Vicarious - Do you look at employing people who have language skills? Do your job descriptions require some form of language training for you employ someone?

No we just see the skills as a bonus

 

[Pab]

We're at the other end of things. When clients decide not to manage different languages in house, or want more than employees with some non-native ability, they outsource to language service providers. We then provide translators and interpreters in the languages they need.

Large clients usually do both... they outsource the bulk of the translation and interpreting work, but use staff with other language capability to deal with day to day stuff.

 

[deniser]

We have fluent German, French and Arabic but almost never have to use them; everyone who deals with us speaks English.

Chinese would be the most useful.

 

[katy25]

Everyone who deals with us speaks English and I think it's a good idea to hire people who can speak another languages in order to eliminate misunderstandings that can appear.

 

[kathyshu]

English is the most popular