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Transnationals in an English-speaking world

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  • Ivan Light

Abstract

The dominance of the English language in the last half century has simplified globalisation and enabled more peoples to engage in transnational entrepreneurship than ever was possible in the past. Currently, transnational entrepreneurs need only English language competence to undertake the work of knitting together geographically and linguistically distant regions and countries. Although everywhere an elite skill, English language competence is now widespread in every region of the world. Therefore, linking two non-English-speaking countries now requires only one language, English. In the past, when middleman minorities undertook international trade, that same linkage required mastery of three language: the language of the exporter, the language of the middlemen and the language of the importer. English language dominance is a cultural resource that abets globalisation, but some evidence suggests a peculiar asymmetry arises when English-speaking countries export to non-English-speaking countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Ivan Light, 2014. "Transnationals in an English-speaking world," International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 23(1/2), pages 10-26.
  • Handle: RePEc:ids:ijesbu:v:23:y:2014:i:1/2:p:10-26
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lloyd L. Wong & Michele Ng, 2002. "The emergence of small transnational enterprise in Vancouver: the case of Chinese entrepreneur immigrants," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(3), pages 508-530, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Amir Maghssudipour & Marco Bellandi & Annalisa Caloffi, 2023. "The role of language in international trade and the “made in Italy”," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 50(3), pages 677-702, September.

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