LANGUAGE STRATEGIES IN BRITISH BUSINESS: A SUITABLE CASE FOR TREATMENT?

Examines the advantages of an integrated language strategy for British business vis‐à‐vis the single market. Analyses the importance of languages to individual firms, as they affect the ROI and proposes a language audit as a tool for implementing the strategy with the emphasis on integration of departments and interfacing of language‐related issues. Highlights the pitfalls of unco‐ordinated programmes and the benefits of those which are quality‐oriented, thereby giving UK companies a favourable image in their foreign language business communications.