"LONDON (Reuters) - The dominance of English as the world's top language -- until recently an advantage to both Britain and the United States -- is now beginning to undermine the competitiveness of both nations, according to a major research report.
The report commissioned by the British Council says monolingual English graduates "face a bleak economic future" as multilingual competitors flood into the workforce from all corners of the globe.
These new polyglots, and the companies that employ them, have significant competitive advantages over their monoglot rivals, including a vital understanding of different cultures, in a world faced with rapid globalisation.
Around 30 percent of the British population speaks a language other than English, but about half of these people have that other language as a mother tongue, Graddol said.
In the United States, 22 percent of the population speaks a language other than English, mainly Spanish, and many of these people have Spanish as their first language, figures from the U.S. Modern Language Association show."
© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.
In the European Union, a very competitive and polyglot market. The professional advantage of multilingual speakers is well known. Is it the same situation in the US ?
The report commissioned by the British Council says monolingual English graduates "face a bleak economic future" as multilingual competitors flood into the workforce from all corners of the globe.
These new polyglots, and the companies that employ them, have significant competitive advantages over their monoglot rivals, including a vital understanding of different cultures, in a world faced with rapid globalisation.
Around 30 percent of the British population speaks a language other than English, but about half of these people have that other language as a mother tongue, Graddol said.
In the United States, 22 percent of the population speaks a language other than English, mainly Spanish, and many of these people have Spanish as their first language, figures from the U.S. Modern Language Association show."
© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.
In the European Union, a very competitive and polyglot market. The professional advantage of multilingual speakers is well known. Is it the same situation in the US ?