Watch Your Language, Young Entrepreneur!
February 11, 2008 by Jim Gordon
Filed under Business
It is an accepted and proven fact that other languages exist in this world. You are typically forced into using the native language from which your parents reside. While this is fine and good, it is also an accepted and proven fact that there are other countries (or at least that’s what they tell me). Why would you want to learn a language of someone who could be living thousands of miles away? You know the answer to this one… it is because the rest of the world is a phone call away. With hundreds of (actively) used languages, how do you choose which one to learn?
Let’s break things down:
Chinese
China has one of the fastest growing economies in the world. It is THE MOST populated country and it has PLENTY of room to grow… economically, that is. Chinese is and will be an incredibly important language to learn in the future.
Spanish
For people living in the United States, this is a no-brainer! Spanish is making its presence known throughout the country and the ability to speak the language is in constant demand. Spanish is a gateway language. Once you learn it, the doors swing open for many other languages (Italian, French, etc).
Japanese
Japan is a power-house for standards and quality. It is also a hub for technology. Learn Japanese, master Six Sigma, and you are now a very marketable entrepreneur.
Italian
Have an excuse to talk with your hands!
There are so many more that I haven’t even touched (Korean, German, French, Swedish), but I find these to be the main powerhouses, in terms of language. What languages have you found crucial to your business?
I’m different as Chinese is my mother tongue and I have to learn how to use English fluently in my business.
I definitely think Spanish is a must for people living in the US and if you want to travel. It’s a friendly language and it’s spoken in so many places. In my experience, knowing this language has come in handy in the US, in South America, in the Philippines and in Europe.
Although I majored in French, I live in an area of the US where a good percentage of the population is Spanish-speaking or bilingual. Even though I can carry on only an elementary level conversation, a lot of people are impressed that I make the effort. It’s kinda fun.
I also find native Spanish-speakers much more patient with me than Parisians ever were with my French. :) It’s proven to be helpful diplomatically, if nothing else!
Great input, everyone! It’s really amazing how much the economy affects the spread of different languages.
Always interesting to see different perspectives from different cultures.