Język niemiecki jako czynnik rozwoju gospodarczego na przykładzie Opola
German language as a factor of economic development on the example of Opole

Author(s): Jarosław Bogacki
Subject(s): Language studies, Theoretical Linguistics, Translation Studies
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego
Keywords: German language; German minority; nearshoring; BPO; ITO; modern business services industry; German language teaching
Summary/Abstract: Language competence is one of the most important factors affecting effective communication in business. In the companies of the modern business services sector (BPO and ITO) with a global reach, these are key competences. The city of Opole has become in recent years, among others, due to the availability of employees with a very good knowledge of the German language, the location of business projects directed to the German-speaking market by these companies. Cultural proximity and German language are the features that distinguish this location in the processes carried out under the so-called nearshoring. In this text the factors influencing this significant competence potential of Opole are presented. The economic and historical conditions that had and still have an influence on the high quality of the German language used here and the number of people who speak the language are discussed in it. The history of teaching this language in the Opolskie Voivodeship after World War II and the role of the German minority in maintaining the German identity, culture and language in the Opole Silesia are also outlined. Then, the companies from the BPO/ITO industry operating in Opole are presented, which use this language as well as their expectations regarding optimal competences and features of employees. Their collection can be used as an inspiration for shaping curriculum programs in the philological faculties in such a way as to enable combining these competencies with philological competences. Outlining the relationship between the “German language” as a feature that distinguishes the city of Opole on the map of the BPO/ITO business locations and the resulting thanks to it places of work is a summary of the reflections on the role of this language in the economic development of Opole.

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