The ability to speak a second language has become a necessity for many professionals and businesses alike, and this trend will not end in the foreseeable future. Even though English will likely remain a dominant global language by 2050, the prominence of other languages rising in their level of importance is a trend to keep an eye on, especially in the economic sector. Businesses operating in different markets or looking to expand their services across new states, regions, and countries will need to be prepared to clearly and effectively communicate in a wider variety of languages to understand and engage with partners and customers. The demand for multilingual speakers is a natural result of today’s globalized world, and it’s here to stay.

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Growing Demand for Languages Other than English

Among the languages projected to rise in prominence are Spanish and Chinese Mandarin. According to a survey conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs for the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), entitled “Making Languages our Business: Addressing Foreign Languages Demand Among U.S. Employers,” the demand for employees with language skills other than English in the United States is on a constant rise. The findings indicate that Spanish is the most sought-after foreign language among U.S employers (85 percent), followed by Chinese (34 percent). Other top languages are French (22 percent), German (17 percent), Japanese (17 percent), Russian (12 percent), Arabic (11 percent), Italian (10 percent), Korean (9 percent), Hindi (8 percent), and Portuguese (8 percent). Spanish has become more widely spoken in the United States due to demographic changes, primarily the growth of U.S. born Hispanics. The 2020 Census indicated that there was a 23% growth among people who identify as Hispanics in the U.S., compared to 4.3% growth within all other ethnic groups combined. Therefore, businesses operating in the United States need to be prepared to communicate in Spanish to successfully reach this market.

Similarly, a report by the British Council in the United Kingdom identifies two languages—Spanish and Chinese Mandarin—among the top five most important languages today. China’s economy is becoming increasingly dominant. As the populations of Latin America and China continue to grow, the demand for Chinese- and Spanish- speaking professionals is likely to grow as well in the coming years. “By 2050, Chinese Mandarin will continue to be the language with the most native speakers,” (Psychreg).

The Impact of Technology on Language Use

It’s worth mentioning that in addition to the demographic changes we are experiencing, the internet and technological advancements will have a significant impact on how languages are used in 2050. Artificial intelligence discoveries and developments, as well as other technology-based solutions, will be more common and accessible which will make it easier for people to interact in and maintain their language of preference. This could lead to an increase in the number of people who are able to speak multiple languages, and the popularity or decline of certain languages could shift as well. As the world becomes more connected and culturally diverse, the ability to master a second or multiple languages will become a vital part of daily life.

Current Trends and the Future of Business

In the upcoming decade, employers need to adapt to these developments linked to language if they want to leverage establishing relationships of trust with diverse consumers and avoid losing business opportunities. As a business leader, you should consider being proactive in assessing the linguistic skills of current and prospective employees before the need becomes imminent to ensure your company is prepared to address the growing demands of diverse customers as well as opportunities to expand into additional markets. You can contact Language Testing International (LTI) for assistance. As the exclusive licensee of ACTFL, LTI is a leader in delivering valid, reliable, and remotely proctored language proficiency assessments in over 120 languages with over 30 years of experience.

Sources:

American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) and the Lead with Languages Campaign commissioned Ipsos Public Affairs, with the support of Pearson LLC and Language Testing International. (2019). “Making Languages Our Business: Addressing Foreign Language Demand Among U.S. Employers.” https://www.leadwithlanguages.org/report

British Council. “Languages for the Future – the foreign languages that Wales and the UK need to become truly global nations”. https://wales.britishcouncil.org/en/languages-future-foreign-languages-wales-and-uk-need-become-truly-global-nations

Psychreg. “What Languages Will Dominate by 2050?” Published on: 23 November 2021. Last updated on: 07 June 2022. https://www.psychreg.org/what-languages-will-dominate-2050/

2020 Census https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/08/improved-race-ethnicity-measures-reveal-united-states-population-much-more-multiracial.html

Madeline Martínez is a Multicultural Navigator Specialist at URBANDER, a Woman and Minority Business Enterprise (WMBE) specializing in transforming businesses to advance humanity. URBANDER’s role is to serve as an extension of Marketing, Diversity, Human Resources, Procurement, Community Relations, and Social Responsibility teams, providing innovative approaches in the areas of strategic marketing, content development, workforce development, community outreach and IDEAS (inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility, and sustainability). Madeline holds a both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Communications from the University of Puerto Rico and is an experienced copywriter and content developer dedicated to amplifying the voices of URBANDER’s clients. From blogs and articles to social media posts and interviews, Madeline is a skilled writer across diverse topics integrating her marketing, business and academic acumen. Though her earlier work as a Publications Officer at the Inter American University in Puerto Rico, and her most recent performance as a Spanish Interpreter, Substitute Teacher, and Instructional Assistant for English-language learning elementary school students, Madeline has impacted countless families as they have navigated migrating to the U.S. from Spanish-speaking countries. As a bilingual professional, Madeline is also proficient in translating written documents from English to Spanish, and vice versa. She has received LTI issued ACTFL Language Proficiency Certificates in Spanish as follows: Advanced Writing, Advanced Listening, Advanced Reading and Superior Speaking. During her downtime, Madeline loves spending time with her family, and enjoys dancing, movies, photography, and coffee. She considers herself a continuous learner. “A well-educated mind will always have more questions than answers”- Helen Keller

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