Business English in Japanese companies
Graduation Thesis
Presented to
the Faculty of the Department of
English Language and Literature
Notre Dame Seishin University
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirement for the Degree
Bachelor of Arts
by
FumikaHamamura
2012
Contents
Abstract1
Chapter One: Growth in business English
1.1 Introduction2
1.2 English in Japanese companies3
1.2.1 Using English in Japanese companies3
1.2.2 New recruit’s opinions about using English as an 4
Official company language
1.2.3Discussion about making English official language5
1.3 Simplified English6
1.3.1 Introduction6
1.3.2 What are they?6
1.3.3 A short history of simplified English7
1.4 Globish9
1.4.1 What is Globish?9
1.4.2 The rules of Globish10
1.4.3 How the 1500 words do their work11
1.4.4 How to learn Globish?13
1.5 Research Questions13
1.6 Summary14
Chapter Two: The experiment
2.1 Introduction15
2.2 The experiment15
2.2.1 Introduction to the experiment15
2.2.2 Method16
1) Subjects16
2) Test design- the experiment16
3)Procedure23
2.2.3 Results24
2.3 Summary30
Chapter Three: The discussion
3.1 Introduction31
3.2 General results31
3.3 Discuss of the results32
3.3.1 Productive test32
3.3.2 Receptive test33
3.3.3 Percentage of the subjects who know the word Globish33
3.3.4 Percentage of the subjects who want to use English in business in the future 34
3.3.5 Communication disability35
3.3.6 Strongest English ability36
3.3.7 Weakest English ability36
3.3.8 Which is better to communicate in English between people who have different mother tongue. 37
3.3.9 Should people learn a simple form of English rather than the full
complex language?38
3.3.10 Summary38
3.4 Implication39
3.5 Limitations of the test and the questionnaire40
3.6 Further research41
3.7 Conclusion41
References43
Appendices
Appendix 144
Appendix 249
Appendix 354
Appendix 459
1
Abstract
Recently, as the world becoming globalization, English has been important for business scene. In Chapter One, we investigated the use of English in Japanese companies and looked at a brief history of simple English. In Japan, some companies have introduced English as an official company language. For using English as an official language, simple English would be a key point. In 2004, Nerriereadvocated that new simple English “Globish”. It is limited to 1500 words, and it has some rules.
In Chapter Two, we looked the results of tests and questionnaire which was given to 50 students in Notre Dame Seishin University. We researched that which was easier to memorize Globish or Japanese words, and the subjects’ opinions for using English in business in the future.
In Chapter Three, we discussed the results of the tests and the questionnaire in detail. We found out it was easier to memorize Globish words than English words. There was not a big difference between receptive test and productive test. Most of the subjects thought they were not good at productive skills, but many subjects want to use English in business in the future. We also saw both advantages and disadvantage of Globish.
1
Chapter One：Growth in Business English
1.1 Introduction
In recent years, the world became globalized thanks to the development of technology. As globalization progress, the world business style has been changing dramatically. Recently, we often see and hear the word “Global business”, and as globalization increases, many companies feel the importance of English keenly. It is thought that English is important in global business scene, so more and more workers are studying English hard. EF; Education First (2011) reported that
A 2007 survey of 10,000 non-native English –speaking employees in international corporations indicated that 49% of employees were using English every day at work. Only 9% indicated that they did not use English at work at all. (EF 2011, p.6)
As globalization progresses, some Japanese companies try to make their employees study English hard. In 2010, a major Japanese IT company Rakuten (楽天) announced that they will make English as their official company language by 2012, and this news surprised people. However, the number of Japanese companywhich promote English like Rakuten have been increasing now. What is actuallyhappening at Japanese companies? Is it a good idea to make English as official company language? Then, what problems will happen? When we learn a foreign language, vocabulary is a very serious problem, because vocabulary is big, so the task has become too big. Lately, simple English Globish which is advocated by Nerriere became well known as a business tool. We have often seen books about Globish at bookstores and a lot of information on websites. What is Globish? Is it different from normal English? Is it easy to use? How can we learn Globish? In this chapter, we will find out the actual condition of uses English in Japanese companies. Furthermore, we will look at a brief history of simple English.
1.2 English in Japanese companies
1.2.1 Using English in Japanese companies
Recently, many Japanese companies request their employees to get high score of TOEC test. The score often effects on their position and getting high score is necessary for promotion, so employees have to study hard. For example, TOEIC club reported that international press officer in Matsushita-Denki(松下電器)has to get to get 900, and candidate for executive officer in Hitachi-Seisakusyo (日立製作所) has to get to get 800. In addition, some companies want new graduate high TOEIC score. NTT-communications wants new graduate 850, and Softbank wants them to get 730. So, university students who want to enter such a company must study hard for TOEIC to get a job.
Not only TOEIC score, some Japanese companies try to make English as their official company language. Japanese famous clothing company “Fast Retailing” (Uniqlo) announced that the managementswould have to use English fromMarch 2012. The biggest reason of this rule is to survive as a world company. In this company, using English is only between foreigner and Japanese. On the other hand, employeesof Rakuten (楽天) will use English even between Japanese, and a president said that if officers can not speaking English, they would be fired. The president said that he wanted his company to grow more global, so he made workers speak English.
1.2.2 New recruit’s opinions about using English as an official company language
There are some data of new recruits who have worked since April 2010. A questionnaire conducted by Legend corporation(レジェンダ・コーポレーション) showed many new recruits disagreed using English as an official company language. There are results of the questionnaire.
Table 1: Do you agree with making English as an official company language?
(Legend corporation,2010)
The subjects who answered no exceed yes clearly. The reasons yes were “It makes the company’s value more clear tanks to take off the company’s nationality.” “Both the company and employee will strong through such a rivalry condition.” On the other hand, the reasons “no” were “It will cause confusion if most employees were Japanese.” “It seems the company slight Japanese customer.”
Table 2: The subjects’ English ability
English ability / PercentageBusiness English / 2.0% / 20.4%
Everyday conversation / 18.4%
Easy communication / 45.3%
Can’t speak too much. / 34.3%
(Ibid)
The new recruits who answered they can use English in business or every day conversation were only 20.4%. On the other hand, the subjects who answered they can’t speak too much were over 30%.
1.2.3 Discussion about making English official language
TorikaiKumikodisagreed with idea about making English official company language. The ELT News website (2011) said she commented as follows:
It seems strange to me that a Japanese company would make English its official language that every worker has to use. That could jeopardize thinking, which is done in each person’s mother tongue [. . .] while it was reasonable to use English at a meeting where most participants do not understand Japanese. Why do they have to speak in English when all attendees are Japanese?(ELT News website, 2011)
On the other hand, the same article reported that Professor Akashi agreed with making English an official company language, and said that “more companies should make English their official language.[. . .] It is important to speak English in a way that others understand.”
The discussion about making English an official company language will continue. However, companies making English official language have been increasing, and we cannot stop this phenomenon. What can we do for this phenomenon? We mentioned briefly above, we do not have to speak full complex English.
1.3 Simplified English
1.3.1 Introduction
The above some company’s presidents said English was important to survive as a global company, but how? Akashi said that it was important to speak English in a way that others understand. Speak simple English is one way. Now, we will look at simplified English.
1.3.2. What are they?
Simplified English developed to facilitate the use of maintenance manuals by non-native English speakers. Aerospace (Simplified English-key to successful internationalization) advocated that the advantages of simplified English are
・it reduces ambiguity,
・speeds reading,
・greatly improves understanding for people whose first languages is not English,
・makes translation cheaper, easier and allows automated translation.
1.3.3 A short history of simplified English
Charles Ogden(1889-1957) who was a linguist and a philosopher created an English-based controlled simplified language “Basic English” also known as “Simple English” It was released in 1930 in the book: Basic English: A General Introduction with Rules and Grammar. The concept of simplified English, gained its greatest publicity just after the Allied victory in the Second World War as a means for world peace. “Basic English is an attempt to give to everyone a second, or international, language which will take as little of the learner’s time as possible.” (Ogden 1930, p.47) He also said
English is one of the international languages for trade, which is dependent on peace and common sense for its increase, so Basic as a complete second language for all purposes has a special value for businessmen. (Ogden1930, p.82)
He limited words his list to 850, and these words were found with 600 names of things, 150 are names of qualities, and the last 100 are the words which put the others into operation and make them do their work in statements i.e. function words.
Harold Palmer (1887-1949) was a British linguist, and he is famous in Japan. In 1934, he came to Japan, and he directed theInstitute for Research in English Teaching as a Linguistic Adviser to the Department of Education in Tokyo. He also advocated controlled vocabulary.
He had developed a 3000-word English vocabulary [. . .] he made the amazing statement that this list of 3,000 words, and it covered 95% of any text written in everyday English, and that the remaining 5% of such texts would be made up of words belonging to a group of 47000 word-units not in his list. (Bongers 1947, p.11)
Michael West (1888-1973) was a colonial educator for Bengal children in India. When he went to a school first, he thought it was difficult to teach them. Few students had reading ability in English, but most of the students were able to write only very slowly and laboriously. He determined to concentrate on reading skills, and found that by substituting the easier words in the children’s readers. He also lowered the amount of new words encountered by readers in a text, so he was able to increase their learning dramatically.
He worked with Palmer, and they worked in the Interim Report on Vocabulary Selection (1935), and West published the General Service List in 1953. It selected words by frequency. We have reviewed the brief history of simplified English, and now, we will look at the latest controlled English “Globish”.
1.4 Globish
1.4.1 What is Globish?
Globish was suggested by a Jean-Paul Nerriere in 2011in his book Globish The World Over(世界のグロービッシュ). The name was derived from Global + English. It was limited to 1500 words and standardization grammar, and it is adapted to business English sufficiently.
The idea of Globish started in international conference with British, Americans, continental Europeans, and Japanese, and then Koreans. He said that the communication between British and Americans were perfect, but it was not good between those two and the rest of people. However, the communication between the last these groups continental Europeans, Japanese and Koreans were good. He thought that the reason of this phenomenon
There seemed to be one good reason: they were saying things with each other that they would have been afraid to try with the native English speakers-for fear of losing respect. So all of these non-native speakers felt comfortable and safe in what sounded like English, but was far from it.[. . .] In truth, non-native English speakers talk to each other effectively because they respect and share the same limitations.
(Nerriere 2011, p.55-56)
Nerriere thought “if we can make the limitations exactly the same, it will be as if there are no limitations at all” (Ibid). So, he studied words which were used by non-native speakers frequently.
It should be easy to use Globish-the same words for everyone everywhere the world. One language for everyone would be the best tool ever. It would be a tool for communication in a useful way. It might not be as good for word games as English, or as good for describing deep feelings. But Globish would be much better for communication between – or with – people who are not native English speakers. And, of course, native English speakers could understand it, [. . .] But Globish does not aim to be more than a tool, and that is why it is different from English. (Ibid p50)
Nerriere emphasized the importance of the name “Globish”. He said “It is important that the Globish name is not “English for the World” or “Simple English.” (Ibid, p. 62) “Globish will be a foreign language to everyone, without exception. It is not broken English.” (Ibid, p.64)
Yuichi Sekiguchi, a consultant of Global English, said “The level of English which is wanted in business scene is not so high, because most communications in business scene are between non-native speakers thanks to expanding market to developing countries.”(日経Career magazine 2011, p.40) He also said “English is a second language for non-native speakers, so Globish is enough to communicate. We do not have to speak English perfectly.”(Ibid) He thought that we could communicate with both native English speakers and non-native English speakers by using simple expression, and Globish was suit for people who do want to express their idea in English.
1.4.2 The rules of Globish
There are some grammar rules of Globish from the book Globish the world over.
1)Globish has 1500 words, expandable in four ways
A) Putting words together
e.g.) work + man =workman
B) Adding a few letters to the front, or the back of a word. We call the basic words: fathers and the new words: children.
e.g.) in + possible = impossible
C) Using the same word for different parts of speech
e.g.) A truck (noun) is a way that farmers truck (verb) their corn to market. On the way they stop for coffee at a truck (adjective) stop.
D) Using a preposition with verbs to make Phrasal Verbs
e.g.) take out
2)Globish uses mostly Active Voice
Globish speakers should understand Passive and Conditional forms. But it is usually best for Globish users to create messages in Active Voice if possible. Who or what is doing the action must by clear in Globish.
English may say:
The streets were cleaned in the morning.
But Globish would say:
The workmen cleaned the streets in the morning.
3)Globish suggests short sentences (15 words or fewer )
The limits phrases and clauses, but allows them if necessary.
Instead of:
When we went to Paris we took a nice little hotel not far from the main shopping area so that we would not have too far to carry our purchases.
Globish speakers will say:
We went to Paris, and we found a nice little hotel. It was near the main shopping area. That way, we would not have too far to carry our purchases.
(Nerriere, 2011 p.106-122)
1.4.3 How the 1500 words do their work
The words of Globish are limited to 1500. In his book, Nerierre answered the reason why he chose these 1500 words.
These words come from several lists of most-commonly used English words. It is very much like the 1500 words used by Voice of America, but it has fewer political words. It is very much like basic Technical English use in international training books but without all of words for measurements. In fact, there are many lists of the “most common” 1500 words, and they all vary a lot in the last 200 words, depending on who is selecting.(Ibid)
In addition, we can use more than limited1500 words by using the 1500 Globish words. The 1500 words are expandable in four ways, and the rules were written in 1.4.2.
We can also use these words like “names and titles (capitalized), international words like police and pizza, and technical words like nouns and grammar in this book” (Ibid, 106). About technical words, Nerriere said
Only common agreement between speakers can decide between them, of course, what other words to allow beyond these 1500 Globish words. If one person cannot understand an additional word, then its use is not recommended. (Ibid, p.106)
Globish means everyone uses the same simple rules, and Globish speakers enjoy the fact that all people who have different cultures are talking together.
1.4.4 How to learn Globish?
We looked at the grammar and the rules of Globish, now we will look at the way to learn Globish. Nerriere thought that it would take about six months if people study for an hour every day including practice writing and speaking. However, it depends on people’s English knowledge and ability. “If you start Globish knowing 1000 of the most-used English words, then it may take you only three months to master Globish.”(Ibid, p.68)
As we saw, learning Globish has a clear goal, for example, the words are limited to only 1500. “You know how much to do because you know where it will end.” (Ibid, p.68) Globish can be learned by each learner level, and they know the goal, it is one of good points of learning Globish.
1.5 Research Questions
Win this chapter we have seen the uses of English in Japanese companies, and a brief history of simplified English. Globish is a new word, and the word are often seen these days. There are many texts for studying Globish for businesspeople. But in fact, is it easy to memorize Globish words? These days, it is said that job hunting is really hard for students. What do university students think about business English? In the next chapter, we will look at a test to memorize Globish and English words and questionnaire about student’s idea. The research questions for this thesis are: