| The Economics of the Multilingual Workplace Contributor(s): Grin, François (Author), Sfreddo, Claudio (Author), Vaillancourt, François (Author) |
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ISBN: 0415800188 ISBN-13: 9780415800181 Publisher: Routledge OUR PRICE: $161.50 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: March 2010 Annotation: This volume looks at the relationship between linguistic diversity and the economic sector, in particular the operation of firms. It develops a novel perspective combining language economics, which helps to fill gaps in our understanding of the role of languages in economic activity, and a broader sociolinguistic perspective on macro-level language policy issues. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Business & Economics | Business Communication - General - Language Arts & Disciplines | Linguistics - General - Business & Economics | Economics - General |
| Dewey: 306.446 |
| LCCN: 2009043454 |
| Series: Routledge Studies in Sociolinguistics |
| Physical Information: 0.7" H x 6.1" W x 9.1" (1.00 lbs) 228 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: This book proposes a path-breaking study of the economics of multilingualism at work, proposing a systematic approach to the identification and measurement of the ways in which language skills and economic performance are related. Using the instruments of economic investigation, but also explicitly relating the analysis to the approaches to multilingualism at work developed in the language sciences, this interdisciplinary book proposes a systematic, step-by-step exploration of the issue. Starting from a general identification of the linkages between multilingualism and processes of value creation, it reviews the contributions of linguistics and economics before developing a new economic model of production in which language is taken into account. Testing of the model using data from two countries provides quantitative estimations of the influence of multilingualism on economic processes, showing that foreign language skills can make a considerable contribution to a country's GDP. These findings have significant implications for language policy and suggest strategies helping language planners to harness market forces for increased effectiveness. |
