Linguistic brokers as business and financial intermediaries ? The case of 18th-century Levant trade (original) (raw)
From merchants to speakers: The common origins of trade and language
The European Journal of the History of Economic Thought, 2012
Adam Smith argued that division of labour and language are linked to the concept of persuasion. However, this paper asserts that trade in the long run and linguistic communication have their roots in trust and probity since both imply some sort mutuality; if not, neither one nor the other would occur as strategies in repetitive games show. I. INTRODUCTION. Adam Smith set forth a theory of language functions and linguistic communication which is relevant to economic behavior. Smith distinguishes three functions of language : communicative, narrative, and esthetic. The communicative function takes on two forms : persuasive (TMS, VII, iv p.336 ; WN I, ii p.25) and sympathetic (LRBL, i.17 p.9; i.73 p. 33 ; i.96 p.40; i.v.56 p. 25, etc). Smith takes the persuasive function of language from classical rhetoric, according to which (Aristotle, Rh.,1358b10) the main function of language is for the speaker to hold the listener in her sway. When Smith asks himself for the cause of the trucking disposition, which underlies trading, he finds the answer in persuasion. Thus in LJ (A vi, p.352), Smith asserts that the disposition to truck is founded on persuasion : If we should enquire into the principle in the human mind on which this disposition of We thank two anonymous referees of The Europ. J. of the History of Economic Thought for their thorough comments on an earlier draft of this paper.
The role of language in international trade
2016
In an increasingly global and networked economy, companies have a wider market at their disposal but also a number of barriers they have to overcome in order to expand their business internationally. When the decision of trading with another country is made, one of the key issues companies have to deal with is language: language barriers can hinder international trade, while language similarities can boost it due to the weight of communication costs. The economics of language is an interdisciplinary field of study that aims to bring together reflections on the role of language in the economy and conversely on how the economy affects language choices. In this study we focus on the relationship between international trade and language barriers by analysing Portuguese exports of goods and find that language does play an important role in the choice of foreign trading partners although sharing Portuguese as the common language with a group of countries does not imply exporting more to those countries as one might expect. We therefore argue for the increase of multilingual policies in education and more investment in reaping the benefits that Portuguese as an international language might bring to our country.
The Power of Multilingualism in a Globalized Economy
2019
Language appreciation in trade and commerce is a strong determinant to the viability of goods and services in a corporate entity. The economic power of language transcends beyond the level of small businesses, to impact on large-scale national and international businesses. The awareness that economic returns ride on the wheels of language comprehension between the trader and his client has grown to a phenomenal proportion; while economic internationalisation and multilingualism have become two sides of the same coin. Moreover, the growth of early civilisations in Africa, Asia and Europe was facilitated by cross-cultural transactions, premised on the mutual understanding of the seller and buyer. Here, the economic power and market potential of multilingualism are advanced. The paper further argues that if monolingualism is propagated over linguistic heterogeneity, the economy will suffer. Furthermore, the paper posits that multilingualism can be exploited as a resource with exchange ...
Histoire Epistémologie Langage, 2016
Merchants, scholars and languages: the circulation of linguistic knowledge in the context of the dutch east india coMpany (Voc) * Résumé Cet article analyse la contribution de la Compagnie néerlandaise des Indes orientales (VOC) sur la circulation des connaissances linguistiques. Il présente tout d'abord quelques « linguistes de terrain » néerlandais oubliés de nos jours et le sort de leurs oeuvres en Europe. Puis, dans un second temps, il adopte la perspective inverse en examinant dans quelle mesure les érudits basés en Europe invitèrent des membres de la VOC à leur transmettre des informations sur les langues du monde.
European Economic Review, 2008
While language plays an important role in gravity models, there has been little attention to the channels through which a common language promotes bilateral trade. This work proposes separate series for a common language depending upon whether ease of communication facilitates trade through translation or the ability to communicate directly. The series related to direct communication is far more important in explaining bilateral trade, but the other series, based on translation, makes a distinct contribution as well. Either measure of a common language outperforms the measure in popular use, which is implicitly related to translation, and a combination of the two does far better. In addition, the paper examines the effect of two country-specific linguistic influences on trade: Literacy and linguistic diversity at home. Both of these influences promote foreign relative to domestic trade. Finally, the article studies the separate roles of English and network externalities. r 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. JEL classification: F10; F40
Journal of Economics, Management and Trade
International trade is the exchange of capital, goods, and services across international borders or territories, which could involve the activities of the government and individual. In Africa and Ghana to be specific, it is through international trade that items like automobiles, mobile phones, and other sophisticated machines are acquired. Along the West African belt, trade has been very key in the lives of the individual. However, different languages are used across the West African sub-region. Major amongst these languages are French, English, Twi , Hausa, and Ewe. The success of traders in the sub-region depends greatly on their ability to communicate either in written or oral form one of the aforementioned languages. Due to this barrier traders usually resort to interpreters to aid their trading activities. Meanwhile, these interpreters are not benevolent organizations-they also work at a
Language and economy: from a handicap to a business opportunity
Revista Paradigmes, 2010
Language is often considered one of the factors in creating that ethereal thing we call identity, which is nothing else than a social bond going beyond specific relations and economic or any other interest. This bond links us to a place, it makes us feel that we have foundations, that is, we share something fundamental with others. However, for the foundations to become the basis holding adequately everything built on it, they need to be solid. In social terms, this means that a solid, strong language in a comfortable position allows its speakers to act in trust, and this trust in turn allows to set out ambitious projects and horizons.
2016
In an increasingly global and networked economy, companies have a wider market at their disposal but also a number of barriers they have to overcome in order to expand their business internationally. When the decision of trading with another country is made, one of the key issues companies have to deal with is language: language barriers can hinder international trade, while language similarities can boost it due to the weight of communication costs. The economics of language is an interdisciplinary field of study that aims to bring together reflections on the role of language in the economy and conversely on how the economy affects language choices. In this study we focus on the relationship between international trade and language barriers by analysing Portuguese exports of goods and find that language does play an important role in the choice of foreign trading partners although sharing Portuguese as the common language with a group of countries does not imply exporting more to t...
Peter Tan and Rani Rubdy, eds. 2008. Language As Commodity: Global Structures, Local Marketplaces
English World-Wide, 2010
Reviewed by Zhichang Xu This volume comprises an "Introduction" by Peter K. W. Tan and Rani Rubdy and 12 contributions, commissioned as chapters, primarily based on the original papers presented at a forum organized by the Singapore Association for Applied Linguistics (SAAL). The overarching theme of the volume is the exploration of the issues surrounding treating languages as commodities. In this volume, as stated in the "Preface", the editors and contributors "seek to engage with the issue of the articulation of language policies and positions in relation to the role and function these languages have in the context of particular communities" (p. xiv). The communities, regions and nation-states under investigation in this volume include Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, India, China, Africa's urban communities, young Londoners from South Asian backgrounds, and Australia. The languages involved in the contributions include English and its many regional varieties, Chinese and its dialects, a number of Asian languages, including Malay, Tamil, Filipino, Punjabi, Urdu, Japanese, and African languages, including Hausa, Igbo, Setswana, Yoruba, and Zulu. Dhir and Savage (2002: 1) claimed that "linguists have long attempted to assess the economic value of language as a commodity, but with little success"; however, this volume is a substantial attempt to view language as commodity with a focus on global social and economic structures and local marketplaces in Asia, Africa, certain parts of Europe and Australia. Indeed, many scholars (e.g. Dor 2004; Tam, Yip and Dissanayake 2002) in recent years view the current world as a site of contestation between the global and the local. Such contestation has given rise to a new term-"glocalism". On the one hand, global businesses tend to think globally but act locally, as they are "gradually abandoning not only the attempt to uncover the universal predictive laws of the market, but also the utopia of an 'international lingua franca' and are looking at ways to penetrate local markets in their own languages" (Dor 2004: 102). "Such a mind-set has also generated a new cultural phenomenon, in the sense that the global has to be concretized in the local" (Tam, Yip and Dissanayake 2002: xi). The commodification of language has been a popular theme in language studies in recent years. Gimenez (2001: 296) points out that "the commodification of socio-cultural products such as language, universities,
This chapter considers the language choices as evidenced in letters exchanged between merchants employed in the service of the late 14th century Tuscan trader Francesco di Marco Datini. This correspondence survives and is held in the voluminous Datini Archive in Prato, Tuscany, and contains letters in Catalan, Latin, Provençal, French, Castilian, Flemish, as well as many vernaculars of Italy. Few studies have focussed specifically on the abilities of Italian merchants with foreign languages, and even fewer on whether these languages were ever used in writing. Although Tuscan was the principal vernacular for communication between merchants of the Datini company, the chapter shows which other vernacular(s) were used by employees living outside of Tuscany and who wrote them. A brief conclusion is offered, showing what implications these examples might have for our understanding of language change at this time.
Languages and the Market: A ReCLes.pt Selection of International Perspectives and Approaches
The paper describes the impact of intercultural context on communication competencies in a foreign (English) language, as perceptions of other cultures are currently viewed as an integral part of effective intercultural communication and a tool developing competitive advantage, especially in the corporate sector. The paper identifies the components of intercultural competence, such as attitudes, knowledge and understanding; it also analyses different aspects of perception in other cultures, including work motivation, negotiations and labour relationships and explains some critical issues and their influence on intercultural communication in international teams and businesses. It shows where and why intercultural differences matter to global business and managers and examines how companies can anticipate cultural differences. It outlines Czech cultural values as seen by others and demonstrates business examples of typical symptoms of cultural clashing in effort to recognize potential faux pas ensuing from little cultural or social awareness. It briefly points out some strategies and frameworks implementing intercultural elements applicable to intercultural management.
Verbal communication: an essential factor in international trade
JANUS NET e-journal of International Relation, 2020
Establishing a business relationship is a complex action influenced by different variables. When we approach the international context, the complexity becomes even greater, with communication between commercial actors playing a crucial role. In this sense, the promotion of effective and unimpeded verbal communication between international partners is crucial for the success of any transaction. It is in this context that economics of language gains relevance, allowing the inclusion of the language spoken by the commercial partners as one of the explanatory factors of international trade, assuming in the explanatory gravitational models of trade flows between countries the role of facilitator of trade exchanges or, on the contrary, of an obstacle to the commercial relationship. Studies in the area of economics of language reveal that economic relations are strongly influenced by language, but language choices can also be influenced by economic factors, which is why this is a bilateral relationship. The study we present here focuses on how verbal communication (measured according to linguistic proximity, that is, a greater or lesser degree of similarity between the language spoken by two business partners) influences the commercial relations established in an international context. In this study, we conclude that, based on data on the volume of Portuguese exports in 2015, the ease of verbal communication with the trading partner has a positive influence on the increase in trade-in empirical terms, this conclusion is corroborated by the fact that Spain is Portugal's main trading partner. We conclude that the language factor is not being well used by the Portuguese State, as the linguistic proximity could be used to increase Portuguese exports, namely with the countries that compose the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) and with those that integrate the Southern Common Market (Mercosur).