The English language still dominates the business world, it is considered to be the lingua franca, but with the political and economic changes that have occurred over the past decade or so there has been a shift in economic leaders and subsequent language requirements.
Globalisation has also affected how businesses operate and where their customers are based.
We can sell or purchase products from anywhere in the world, at the touch of a button, so it no longer enough to offer a monolingual website, marketing materials or customer service centre.
Instead, businesses now need to translate and localise their services and products for international markets, ensuring they can communicate and engage with foreign-language speaking customers and give themselves the best chance of success in world markets.
Knowing which languages should be selected to translate and localise your content into, for maximum return, can be a daunting process, but there are a handful of languages which will give you a good foundation from which to operate a successful international business.
Read on to discover the top 3 languages…
1. Arabic
There are over 400 million speakers of the Arabic language around the world making it one of the top 5 most spoken languages.
Across the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) there are 27 countries that list Arabic as their official language and it has had considerable influence on Mediterranean languages including, Spanish and Portuguese.
Traditionally considered to have built their wealth around the oil industry, many countries in the Middle East have found ways to diversify and are quickly adopting new technological and financial changes.
A recent article online highlights the changing face of business in the Middle East and showcases many of the improvements made by Middle Eastern governments over the last few years including, massive investment in finance, technology and education ensuring the MENA region is becoming a major player in these high-growth areas.
Doing Business, a World Bank flagship report released in 2019 which considered business growth, potential and ease in the MENA region, shows that the United Arab Emirates is ranked number 11 on the world scale for ‘ease of doing business’ and that every other Arab country is ranked in the top 50% of the 190 countries studied.
For firms looking to stretch their reach into up and coming markets, the MENA region, and the Arabic language, should be number 1 on the list.
2. Mandarin
Mandarin is the most widely spoken language in the world with over 1 billion native speakers and it is the second most used language on the internet.
The huge digital and technological growth that China has experienced over the last decade has increased the prominence of the Mandarin language around the world, so much so that it may succeed the English language as the lingua France of the business world in the coming years.
According to reports by the World Bank, China’s growth since 1978 averages 10% per year with it now considered to be the second largest economy in the world.
The need for businesses to translate their online content into Mandarin is vital in terms of potential sales and business opportunities.
3. Spanish
With almost 500 million native speakers worldwide, the Spanish language is the third most used online and is spoken increasingly in the US.
It is the official language of 21 countries around the world from Spain to South America but also some Asian and African countries.
There are more than 20 million people studying Spanish and with high growth markets such as, Mexico, becoming increasing influential in global markets, it is definitely worth translating and localising online content for Spanish-speaking audiences.
Translation and Localisation of your online content will open doors to new trade and customers, ensuring foreign clients can connect with your brand, products and services.
For more advice on which language(s) would be most beneficial for your firm please contact a member of the Creative Word team who will guide you and answer any questions you may have.
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