What SECOND LANGUAGE is best for Business?
 

Besides English, the universal language for business, what other language should a businessman learn?

French?
German?
Japanese?
Mandarin Chinese?

20 years ago, everybody would have said Japanese.

Today, many would say Mandarin.

Since it's constantly changing, I believe that it really depends of where the opportunities you're going after are.

sign language ;)

I would have to say Spanish. It's a root language for many different cultures from Italy to all of the South Americas.

I lived in California for over 24 years and I would definitely agree that Espanol is almost mandatory for biz there. However, for GLOBAL business, what's your guys' view?

Mandarin Chinese is looking interesting or perhaps Hindi.

spanish because these fucking mexicans don't want to learn english

Mandarin

http://images5.theimagehosting.com/MrGarrison.jpg

Can we get rid of all the Mexicans?

Used to be French but looking forward it has to be Chinese. They are going kick our ass at everything pretty soon.

What about spanish ?

if we get rid of all the mexicans, whos going to cut my grass?

Or serve me food at the fast food places....we need them mexicans

portuguese

Not all. In Brazil they speak Portuguese. And Brazil is the most heavily populated country in South America.

It matters really where you wanna create your business...

Asia: Cantonese/Mandarin or Japanese
Europe: French or Spanish (handy for Sth America as well)

I am speak German and English and it has helped me a little. Most people that want to do business speak English. I would love to learn Spanish, French and Japanese.

its a toss up between sign language & spanish. i'd learn the basics of them both.

There really is no point learning French or German.

For a global lang. learn Spanish, Arabic or Mandarin.

I would say mandarin, China's on the way up and it won't be too long before it can claim genuine superpower status.

I don't think arabic is that useful for business. The wealth in arabic speaking countries is concentrated in too few hands to make them much of a player in the business world. That's not to say they don't have great economic influence, the oil dictates that they do, but most businesses will find minimal opportunities for doing business with the arab world.

i would say mandarin also, but spannow has a point that all the s.american countries, plus italy, portugal etc are a version of spanish i've found...

I would agree with Spannow on Spanish, but I would go with German from your list. It all depends though which business it is. Finance (Germans) Tech (Asian) Pastries (French :) )

Chinese i would say

Chinese!!! All the way.
The Japanese know how to speak english.

Chinese indeed

Japanese sure as fuck dont speak english. Tokyo is a nightmare to get around if u dont speak japanese. But with growth being a shitty 2% there these days not too much demand for Jap/English speakers. If you speak Mandarin thee days you can name your price - practically no supply of Mandarin/English speakers

spanish I think...

the chinese is too difficult to learn

in LA 'spanish'

spanish if you are drug dealer

C++


http://www.gfy.com/images/smilies/2twocents.gif

All depends on where you live.

I would also say spanish, but then again not many spanish people who live in America that dont speak english partake in business.

Nearly all global businessmen speak English.

Any business-based reason to learn another language has to be
case-by-case. No one language is "best" for everyone.

i.e. a photographer who goes to Eastern Europe frequently might
learn one of their languages so he can have a better time and
communicate with the models.

But someone looking to get the best deal in China might want Mandarin.

It all depends on the kind and location of your business.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH by 2015 there will be over 75% Mexicans in California. They are slowing taking California back.

As Vincent Fox and Al Sharpton said...The Negroes will.

Many Japanese know how to speak English but since you are in their country they expect you to speak their language or get the fuck out. They are this way because Americans treat them the same way when they (Japanese) come to the US.

This is the same for the French but the Frenchy's don't want to speak English when they come to the US. Bastards!!

Mandarin

Well said... I can't agree more. :thumbsup

Ebonics, there's a lot of whiggers out there. :winkwink:

agree with u....

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh

it depends on your business area. If you mean internet-wise, I'd go with Spanish and German. As a matter of fact we do!!! ;) Now, if you've a good knowledge of Japanese market and good contacts, then Japanese all the way, it's where the real bling is. However, a very difficult market, we gave up for the moment

spanish is the way to go, at least in america its becoming a necessity to learn it. all students in school should learn it, instead of german or french, which are useless in this country.

Mandarin

i'd say spanish

depends if the business man is truly learning a 'second language', or a third..
eg: if he already knows french, he should learn spanish as it's SO easy to pick up...
and then he can work on a fourth :)
and yeah, it all depends on where he's trying to do business...
here in Canada, if I only spoke English, I'd want to pick up either Mandarin or Cantonese as my second language, since there's so much growth in those areas..
Probably the most useful second language in Canada..

I am covering all of the bases. By the end of the first quarter of 2006 I shall be able to ask "do you want fries with that" in 12 different languages.

Agreed.

When I was in high school (20+ years ago) my Dad strongly advised me to learn Japanese as the most useful language of the future.

Today, talking about Internet business there is no argument it is Mandarin, which I have been struggling to learn for the last two years. Chinese people are all learning English like crazy too but there are plenty who don't take lessons seriously and/or prefer of course to speak/read in their Mother tongue.

China will soon overtake the USA as the country with the most internet users. Of course very few have credit cards but that number is increasing exponentially every year and they have several popular micro payment systems like via mobile phone, tokens etc.

So you can either trust and pay a translation service to make Chinese versions of your websites (I'm talking mostly mainstream at the moment of course) and to conduct your meetings or learn to understand, speak and read Mandarin and really get a feel for the culture and the unique marketing methods and products that appeal to Chinese surfers. Typing in Mandarin is not real hard but fuck learning to write it. :Oh crap :2 cents:

I'm learning Japanese these days. Easier than I thought it'd be.

depends on the market..