The use of English as a common corporate language in international business

• Main Author: Trninić-Janjić Zora
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Novi Sad - Faculty of Economics, Subotica 2014-01-01
• Series: Anali Ekonomskog fakulteta u Subotici
• Subjects: globalization; effective communication; international business; common corporate language
• Online Access: https://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/0350-2120/2014/0350-21201431315T.pdf
• ISSN: 0350-2120; 2683-4162

It is now widely acknowledged that globalization has had a huge impact on all aspects of contemporary life. The world of business is no exception, which is best seen in the creation of global market economy in which almost all networks are international. In this light, it is almost impossible to imagine a company surviving and thriving in the global market without implementing a common corporate language strategy. This is not, in any sense, an easy task because it may have certain implications on both individual and corporate level that need to be addressed, but inability to overcome the language barrier interferes with effective communication, information and knowledge sharing as well as the decision making processes. The worldwide spread of English as a lingua franca has resulted in an unprecedented dominance of the language in international communication. The extent of the expansion of English is seen in the fact that non-native speakers have outnumbered native speakers by now, and also in the use of English in most international business interactions. For this reason, English is typically found in the role of the designated language for communication in multinational corporations.