Japanese Business Discourse of Oneness

Abstract

It is not too much to say that English dominates the global business world as a lingua franca. No one could deny or disagree with the statement of Michael Skapinker in the Financial Times: “Never in recorded history has a language been as widely spoken as English is today. The reason why millions are learning it is simple: It is the language of international business and therefore the key to prosperity. It is not just that Microsoft, Google, and Vodafone conduct their business in English; it is the language in which Chinese speak to Brazilians and Germans to Indonesians.” Against the backdrop of a widespread use of English, international managers seem to believe that “English ability equals global business communication ability”—as if greater fluency in the English language automatically leads to enhanced abilities in global communication. Even though Business English as a Lingua Franca dominates international business, I believe that English ability alone cannot be considered equivalent to global communication ability. What is also essential to effective communication is consideration for others and understanding of different perspectives. This article discusses Japanese language habits and unique features of Japanese communication style.