English as a Lingua Franca in Global Business: Balancing Efficiency and Cultural Sensitivity

Abstract

This work focuses on English as an international business lingua franca in the realisation of effective international communication and collaboration. A globally integrated market has seemingly perceived English as an imperative medium in order to eliminate the barrier of language and play a facilitative role for multinational ventures; it adds an edge in organisational performance among diverse cultural landscapes. The dominance of English, on the other hand, also means that potential linguistic inequities might be bred, and the subtleties in the cultural differences might go on unnoticed. The study adopts a qualitative paradigm, through which it uses structured questionnaires to elicit insights with respect to the pros and cons associated with using English as the second language in business environments. Participants mentioned that English facilitates international transactions, helps in bringing the unity of diversified groups in terms of language, and supports the strategies of worldwide businesses. Critics say that a cavalier attitude towards non-native speakers will dominate and crop up as cultural insensitivity. Therefore, the findings in this article highlight that while English as a Lingua Franca may have innumerable advantages in worldwide business communication, there does always need to be a sense of balance and a certain amount of appreciation for diversity in languages to foster an inclusive global business environment.