Language and Economics: Mutual Incompatibilities, or a Necessary Partnership?

Abstract

Misunderstandings between economic approaches to language and the field of language policy/language planning arise from deficiencies in the literature of both camps. This paper examines four examples: (1) liaison interpreting, where traditional economic analysis points to surprising benefits of engaging interpreters, often not recognised by practitioners themselves; (2) sometimes exaggerated claims by language professionals for the economic benefits of studying languages; (3) unresolved issues in language use in international organisations and trade; and (4) misinterpretations of links between multilingualism and disadvantage. Lack of understanding by economists of language issues is often matched by illiteracy in economics on the part of language professionals.

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