The objective of the BCC’s language .... was to analyse the relationship between foreign language use and export performance.

... interviewing several hundred UK export managers, the BCC analysed their responses to a standard questionnaire and used this information as the basis for the report.

These are findings of the survey, .... was conducted over a period of two years.

The survey shows that .... UK managers have very different opinions about the importance of foreign languages, they do agree on one thing.

English has .... established itself as the international language of business. The study divides UK exporters into four distinct groups

Anglocentrics choose to do business exclusively with countries that have had close historical ties to the UK and a tradition of using English. But this is not a dynamic strategy and .... , this group tends to avoid business opportunities that present themselves in other parts of the world.

Opportunists do not like to have any direct business dealings in a foreign language. But they are prepared to consider doing business with non-English-speaking countries ... they can find an English-speaking representative to do the basic work for them.

Adaptors go further ... attract the foreign custom they need, and that involves making an effort to present product information and sales literature in the local language.

Enablers are the most sensitive to linguistic and cultural identity and integrate these two factors in their strategic overview. .... they do a lot of their business in non-English-speaking countries, they ensure that information about all aspects of their business operations is available in the national languages of the markets where they are present.

However, just ... managers in other groups, they too are reluctant to actually conduct business in a foreign language.