This Post-Brexit Linguanomics

Abstract

This chapter argues that languages are an economic resource. If deployed wisely, business benefits. If ignored, opportunities will be missed. History shows that trade and languages always go hand in hand, offering opportunities for expansion and development. Post-Brexit Britain will need a language strategy as it aims to connect with fresh markets overseas. It should mobilise the already rich bilingual resources of the cosmopolitan UK. There is a strong economic incentive for support with language training across all levels of society. At the policy level this means languages education at school, in further and higher education. Companies too will benefit from funding for language skills training, which in turn will be a means to generate more revenue. Strategic investment is needed in a range of foreign languages to match the changing language needs generated by the market. This will help secure a competitive edge and grow the UK’s intellectual capital.

The book Linguanomics (Hogan-Brun 2017) outlines a framework that explains the historical importance of the relationships between languages and economics today. This chapter links selected linguanomic aspects with the implications of Brexit. A summary of some key points raised here was published in the online magazine The Conversation: ‘How Britain’s Monolingualism Will Hold Back its Economy after Brexit’ (31 March 2017).