English is the primary language for worldwide commercial and foreign affairs activity. English is also the official language of the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU), and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and it is the most widely used language on the internet. The number of English speakers is expected to rise to 2 billion by 2020, illustrating the importance of English in the future. Although English is not widely spoken in many countries, it remains a key language for international economic activity, particularly in industries such as tourism and travel.
A look at Global Online Languages
It is apparent that persons who do not speak English will have trouble locating information online without asking for assistance. According to one survey, the percentage of English-language websites has declined dramatically over the last few decades, from 80% in the 1990s to 45% in the mid-2000s. According to the report, 72% of users exclusively browse and buy on websites in their home tongue. 56% of users say that information published in their native language is more significant than the price of the product.
The foregoing tendencies indicate that English will not be able to sustain its current global appeal, at least in the digital age. The popularity of Chinese, Spanish, French, and Portuguese, as well as the rise in mobile users and Britain’s Brexit referendum, have led to the development of new languages.
Mobile-first market in India
India has already eclipsed China as the world’s fastest expanding market, with a growth rate of 7. 3% annually. The use of mobile devices is one of the key drivers of growth. Although only 22% of the population was online in 2015, by 2020, India will be the world’s third largest smartphone market, with 750 million users.
Language variety is a difficulty for organizations looking to capitalize on this new customer market. Leading online shopping sites in this industry must supply material in the country’s 22 official languages.
China’s economy is growing strongly
With a population of 1. 3 billion, China has the highest English learning rate of any country. However, of the seven major dialects, Mandarin is by far the most dominant. The Chinese government is encouraging traditional Cantonese-speaking regions (such as Hong Kong and Macau) to learn Mandarin, and the language is gaining popularity in other Asian countries.
China’s economy and worldwide status have grown exponentially over the last few decades, and it will become Southeast Asia’s primary trading partner. Experts predict that as corporations perform more transactions in yuan than in US dollars, Mandarin will supplant English – even if many experts believe the new multilingual trend is necessary.
Popularity of Spanish
The number of native Spanish speakers is second only to Mandarin. Aside from Spain, the United States and Mexico have the highest number of Spanish speakers in the globe. There are currently 41 million native Spanish speakers and 11. 6 million native bilinguals in the United States alone, with the number of speakers expected to reach 138 million by 2050.
Many countries have designated Spanish as the most essential language to learn in schools, and many see the global focus on Spain as a sign of economic transformation. According to studies, bilateral trade grew by roughly 300% when conducted in Spanish, indicating that essential steps should be taken by enterprises looking to expand into new markets. is expanding quickly throughout Latin America.
Negative impact of the UK’s Brexit
The European Union, a major economic partner for the United Kingdom, the United States, and China, is another economy to keep an eye on. However, Brexit has rendered English dominance moot. No longer are the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Malta the only two EU nations who use English as an official language, accounting for barely 1% of the EU’s total population of 300 million.
There have been suggestions that the EU will change its official language to French or German, but English will remain unchanged for the time being. This represents an unparalleled potential for UK-based businesses to expand abroad.
Which language will dominate the internet in the future?
In general, it is difficult to envisage any single language as dominating. Every day, the globe becomes more connected, the basic human desire to be understood grows greater, and technology is doing incredible things to aid multilingual communication.
That is not to say that English will lose its value entirely. English is not the only business language of the future, but it must be among them. Global firms will simply need to adjust their messaging to meet changing client expectations, which includes embracing the multilingual trend.
