How to Pick the Right Language: My Tips for Finding the Best Fit for Different Situations
The world has thousands of languages, and deciding what language to use in specific situations can be challenging.
If you’re bilingual or a polyglot, you probably know a couple of languages, which gives you a few options to choose from.
Perhaps you are trying to decide which language to learn that will help you the most, and you don’t know whether you should master Russian, Spanish, Chinese, Indian, or Hindi.
Luckily, I’ll share what languages are appropriate to different situations, as well as how to decide what your next language project should be.
What Determines the Appropriateness of a Language to a Situation?
Each situation calls for a unique and suitable language.
Obviously, if you are in an Italian restaurant, you may want to order in Italian (if you speak it well enough); however, if you can only speak English (or your native language), you’d have to try and communicate in that language.
Some situations are a little more specific, but there are a few considerations that will help you steer clear of a nasty egg-on-face situation.
Consider the following:
- Your ability to speak a language clearly. While you may want to speak in your host’s native language, it’s not a great idea if you can’t speak it confidently — and you’d be likely to insult them (if they don’t know it is not your native language).
- The cultural and historical association of a language. It’s said that if you want to have a great experience traveling in Ireland or France, you’d be best served to start speaking your native language (not English) before you switch over to English (if you don’t speak the native tongue). The history of these regions means that English is not seen as a favorable language. However, once people realize you aren’t actually English, they’ll more readily help you.
- Your host’s language. The language spoken by your host (whether in business or leisure) will greatly determine how you should speak with them. If you want to show respect, you can introduce yourself in their language before switching to a suitable (common) language for your situation.
4 Situations and the Top Languages for Each
Each situation you find yourself in will benefit from communicating in the right language. Here are a few situations that will determine what language you should be speaking.
1. Best Language for Travel: Mandarin, Spanish, German, English, and Arabic
If you love international travel like I do, you will know that being able to speak the basics of the region you are visiting is a perfect way to make friends, secure great travel deals, and get help when you need it.
Of course, the language depends on the region.
While Chinese is the most spoken language in the world (with 1.3 billion speakers), you don’t necessarily have to learn Chinese (unless you have a real interest in the language) or will be traveling in China almost exclusively.
If you are traveling in Asia, you’d do well to learn Mandarin as it is widely spoken in different countries in Asia and even parts of India.
In Western Europe, it would serve you well to learn Spanish, which is widely spoken and understood by many locals. Speaking Spanish can also serve you in some African and South American countries.
Spanish is the second most spoken language on earth, with 486 million native Spanish speakers.
German is also a good choice for European and African travel, and both Spanish and German are fairly easy to learn if you speak English at native level.
If you are traveling in the Middle East regions, you can try mastering Arabic, but be warned that it’s one of the more difficult languages to learn.
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2. Best Language for Professional Settings: English or Spanish
But what about business?
What language should you use when going for a job interview or to meet with professional colleagues (who could be from all over the world in our remote work environment)?
English is a safe bet. Unless the interview is being conducted in your native country (which means you’d all be speaking your native language), you can safely speak English with the interviewer.
It’s a good idea to ask when accepting an invitation for an interview what language the interview will be conducted in if it’s in a non-English native country.
If English is off the table, you’d have a good chance with Spanish or Mandarin.
3. Best Language for Studying Abroad: English or the Native Language
Studying abroad may mean you’d have to speak the local language, but many education centers use English as a language of tuition.
Traveling for studies is an excellent opportunity to learn a new language from the native speakers.
4. Best Language for Trade and Industry: English or Spanish
In the business world, English is still regarded as one of the most powerful languages for communication.
The English-speaking population is a staggering 1.348 billion, which includes native and non-native English speakers.
How to Decide What Language to Learn for Situations You may Experience
Decide what languages may be useful in the situations you anticipate being in: travel, leisure, education, or business.
Then decide which language is going to let you communicate the clearest in these situations.
Your fluency will also determine whether you are proficient enough in a language before you decide if that language is appropriate.
Final Choices
For travel purposes, use the language that’s natively spoken in that area or most widely spoken, and for business, rely on English or Spanish in your negotiations (unless you are in Asia where Mandarin is a better option).
Studying abroad can be done in English or the chosen language of the institution (in Paris, you may need to learn in French).
Interviews are usually conducted in the native language of the interviewer or English for international companies.
Whatever language you choose, ensure you speak it well enough for the situation you find yourself in.
A travel guide may understand if you fudge French a little while on holiday, but your future business partner won’t appreciate muddy communication if you try to speak a language you barely know.
Choose your language wisely!
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