COMMON LANGUAGE: A KEY COMPETENCE IN INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES

Abstract

Communication problems are frequent in international contexts in which language diversity could
appear as a major obstacle. In the absence of a
“common language”, it is not enough to use a single
language to overcome communication difficulties.
Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to offer a definition of “common language” as a system, which is
co-constructed by the members of an organization.
A “common language” is composed of one or more
languages, concepts, tools and methods and its purpose is to allow the exchange of specific information related to the activity of the company within its
social context. using a case study of a small international company working between France and Asia
(China, Thailand & Vietnam) in the food industry
sector, this article presents the use and implementation of an in-house “common language”. The results
show that the recognition and use of terminological
units composing the in-house “common language”
remain dependent on the hierarchical position in the
company. The implementation and assimilation of
the “common language” are an important step in
acquiring and developing competences to properly
perform in the international company.