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> Maybe the Internet, yes. But international business? I don’t think so. Maybe from a perspective of native English-speaking person it appears to him like that.
by tormeh 4y ago
> Maybe the Internet, yes. But international business? I don’t think so. Maybe from a perspective of native English-speaking person it appears to him like that. But it’s not the case in any non-English speaking country.
When a Swedish company does business with a Portuguese company, they speak English. Other languages are used for domestic business. International business is done in English. There are exceptions to the rule like the Francophonie, but let's not be pedantic. You may learn some phrases of the other party's language as a gesture of goodwill and politeness (and honestly it's kinda fun use of company time), but the actual important talks take place in English.
- raverbashing 4y ago> When a Swedish company does business with a Portuguese company, they speak English. Correct, and they both feel less entitled about the other part not speaking their language as English native speakers do
- germandiago 4y ago> and they both feel less entitled about the other part not speaking their language as English native speakers do Have a couple of stories about this. Yes, some people think that you should know their language when they just speak theirs. I do not find it too polite, honestly. Especially a couple of times I saw things that even once made me jump in and say: "how many languages do you speak?" He was abroad, you know, in Asia. And I had to reply: "what makes you think everyone should speak english? You are not even in an english speaking country". It is not nice to see people behave like that. I think it made the locals feel insulted, not bc he cannot speak the local language. It was because of the attitude of demanding the others to talk to him in english. English is the most used second language. But noone said each of us must learn it. Just my two cents.
- pjmlp 4y agoWe might speak English but you will be signing everything in Portuguese. And depending on the education we also speak Spanish, French, German and Italian, as the main learning paths in high school available to chose from. But again, legal documents, Portuguese.
- Kiro 4y agoWhy would a contract for an international deal not be in English?
- rozenmd 4y agoBecause legally, the contract has to be in the jurisdiction's official language
- Xylakant 4y agoThat’s not true - you can have a contract in any language in Germany. But the first thing that a court adjucating any dispute would do is have a certified translator translate it into German - at your cost. And that translation will be out of your control. So it makes sense to have a German contract, so at least you know what the contract says going to court.
- Major_Grooves 4y agocorrect - all our actual investment documents are in English.
- rad_gruchalski 4y agoPlus, if during the certification of the translation it comes up that the document does not comply with the legal requirements, it may lead to a contract invalidation. It can be really expensive depending on the matter of the dispute.
- thomascarney 4y agoYou can choose both the law and forum in many types of commercial agreements. Typically international contracts will choose English law as the governing law.
- rad_gruchalski 4y agoIf your company has a legal representation in the English speaking country, sure, go for it.
- belorn 4y agoSweden went through a massive cultural swing towards English/US culture in the later 90s and then at full speed through the later decades. English was initial an alternative language that Swedes could optionally pick at the age of 15-18 (a choice between German, french and English). Then it became a graduation requirement for all students at that age group (with German and french being delegated to a third optional choice), and then English moved down the age groups and now Swedish children learn it beginning as early as age 8-9. English has become a second required language in Sweden throughout the education system.