In light of the controversy over Sanskrit, it may be relevant to look at studies on language and its co-relation with career prospects. A British Chambers of Commerce study from 2013 found that more than 60% of companies who want to do business in other countries face major problems due to language barriers. So which languages offer the best prospects for a better salary and job advancement?
Spanish used to be the top choice, since Spanish-speakers account for more of world GDP than any other language. A large proportion of the populations of North, Central and South America use Spanish in communication. It is estimated that the ability to speak Spanish could come with a wage increase of about 1.7%. France is a key player within the eurozone, with many representatives of the country holding key positions within the IMF and a number of other international organisations. It is estimated that the ability to speak French could come with a wage increase of about 2.7%. However, the best prospects are for those who speak German (Is Smriti Irani listening?). Germany is an economic powerhouse and the most strong and stable within the EU. German is the most widely spoken language within Europe. It is estimated that the ability to speak German could come with a wage increase of about 4%. Mandarin is catching on since so few people in China speak English, but it is a long way behind German, Spanish or French. As they say: c’est la vie.