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Is English Enough?

 

• Only 6% of the world’s population speak English as a first language.
•  75% of the world’s population don’t speak any English
•  English accounts for only 30% of world GDP

Why do we need competence in other languages?

 

• One if five exporting companies say they are losing trade because of language and cultural barriers. (CILT/LNTO)
• UK exports are underperforming in Russia and Brazil, and losing out to European competitors in China. (UKTI)
• Customers are willing to pay more if they can buy in their own language. (Common Sense Advisory)

How well equipped are UK companies to do business in other languages?

 

• 80% of UK export managers cannot conduct business in a foreign language. (British Chambers of Commerce)
• The proportion of UK executives who can negotiate in another language is half the EU average. (Grant Thornton)
• Over 74% of employers are dissatisfied with school-leavers’ language skills. (CBI)

What is the impact on the UK economy?

 

• The UK is over-reliant, compared to the rest of the world, on business with counties which speak the same language.
• Rebalancing our trade with non-English speaking countries could add £21 billion per year to UK GDP. (Findings from ‘Costing Babel’, Cardiff Business School)

What do business leaders say?

 

• That hoary old adage, ‘everyone speaks English’ will consign the UK to the slow lane of global culture, politics and business.
  (Miles Templemann, Director General, Institute of Directors)
• Intercultural awareness and language skills are among the top priorities in developing and executing business in international markets.
  (Sir John Parker, Chairman, National Grid plc)
• There is a strong connection between the value an exporter places on language skills and their annual turnover.
  (David Frost, Director General, British Chambers of Commerce)

What do language and cultural skills contribute to the economy?

 

• Better service to tourists and visitors from abroad.
• UK nationals better able to compete in the international jobs market.
• Positive influence on inward investment decisions.
• Better working relations across cultures.
• Language skills will help the UK to successfully deliver the Olympics.

Absolute Czech Translations uses this information with the permission of CILT, the National Centre for Languages which works with business, education and the community to promote a greater national capability in languages.

This publication can be ordered free of charge from www.cilt.org.uk/shop

Contact details:

 

CILT, the National Centre for Languages
111 Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7HR
Tel: 020 7379 5101
Email: info@cilt.org.uk
www.cilt.org.uk

Further information:

I can also recommend reading the following brochure, prepared by the Institute of Translation and Interpreting: "Translation - Getting it right. A guide to buying translations." This brochure contains practical, relevant and easy-to-read explanations on how to get the best value for your money when commissioning a translation job. You will need Acrobat Reader or similar to open this PDF file.

http://www.iti.org.uk/pdfs/trans/GIR_english.pdf