Globish (a word coined from the union of global + English), a simplified approach to speaking English, is in high demand for the employees of Japanese companies looking to spark new growth in a stagnant economy. According to Bloomberg, company encouragement to learn English may be the best way to strengthen Japan’s workforce. Globish teaches people to speak using a collection of 1500 business-relevant words and simple grammar. The video below is from the Globish website, which states “The simple goal of Globish is to reach only a level — a common ground — where everyone understands everyone else, everywhere in the world.”
Toshihiro Nagahama, chief economist at Dai-Ichi Life Research Institute in Tokyo, says in the Bloomberg article that “Emphasizing English is definitely the right direction to go, as the domestic economy has peaked…Companies need more sophisticated English speakers for their globalization, which is crucial to spur profits.” Many English-language schools and training companies have also seen a recent surge in activity, as companies and individuals seek to prepare themselves for international expansion.
It seems that a collection of 1500 words and simple grammar makes the language accessible to a larger number of people while legitimizing the use of a reduced form of English in the marketplace.
Do you speak Globish? I imagine people learning Globish will use it with non-native English speakers who have a similar understanding of the language. How effective is this way of speaking English in terms of effective intercultural communication?
Josh
