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I've been to Geneva a bunch of times and the general population did not seem to master english much more so than the average Parisian... To say that Switzerland is much more global than France is kinda funny. I mean sure, there are many global aspects to Geneva, but to see it above Paris in that level is kinda weird, also considering its size. Switzerland is not even part of the E.U. and has its own currency...
I mean, Paris even has its 2024 Olympic Game slogan in English... hostile to anything but French ? It's not 1952 anymore...
The reason that Geneva is more global is down to the nature of the economy. The presence of the UN, the WHO, the Red Cross and CERN, the presence of major European HQs (e.g. Proctor & Gamble, Caterpillar, Dupont), the presence of export oriented Swiss businesses (e.g. SGS, Rolex, Firmenich) and the importance of the international private banking industry all point to a very international orientation.
Paris, on the other hand, is very much a French business and financial centre rather than an international one. The only UN agency in Paris is UNESCO and there are relatively few non-French European HQs (IBM and Microsoft are in Paris) probably due to the unfavourable tax regime when compared to Switzerland, Luxembourg or Ireland. The financial transactions tax - recently increased - has not helped its financial sector.
23% of Geneva residents are bi-lingual and 6% are multi-lingual. More than 30% speak several languages at home. While French remains the principal language, English is very much the second language and is particularly important at senior management levels. Some 10% of the population speak English at home.
These statistics do not cover people who can speak some English (or German or Italian, etc.). In the Geneva school system, French is the first language but English is the second coming before other national languages. Most Genevans can speak some English although they may not be comfortable in an extended conversation or working in the language. Where I worked, we tended to choose the language that the client was most comfortable with and all professional and secretarial staff were expected to be able to speak French and English.
The fundamental problem Paris has - in addition to an interventionist governmental tradition and high taxes - is that it is French speaking whereas global cities such as London, New York, Hong Kong or Singapore are essentially English speaking.
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The French don't seem to understand that French is no language of business, except in France and some African nations. English long ago replaced it. No city will be global unless it has a huge cadre of English speaking people and can attract English speakers.
I have no doubt that London will loses some of its pull in global commerce as the UK leaves the EU, but the business lost by that city isn't going to Paris. Its regulation, labor laws, and taxation make it too complex, plus the French aren't seen as exactly open minded.
The French don't seem to understand that French is no language of business, except in France and some African nations. English long ago replaced it. No city will be global unless it has a huge cadre of English speaking people and can attract English speakers.
I have no doubt that London will loses some of its pull in global commerce as the UK leaves the EU, but the business lost by that city isn't going to Paris. Its regulation, labor laws, and taxation make it too complex, plus the French aren't seen as exactly open minded.
This does not show a cultural power, just that one is dependent on the cultural power of another.
It does show cultural and in fact economic power. A major advantage that London, has, and will continue to have, is the strong ties to the USA, which (notwithstanding Trump) will remain for the foreseeable as the world's most powerful nation. This is why English is the language of global commerce as Americans refuse to speak anything else.
As much as many are now worried as to what the landscape will be when the UK exists the EU London will remain a global center for this very reason.
Now as to the rest of the UK, that's another story. Those who voted Brexit will suffer their fate. London will endure.
Might be true but only exportable to Ivory Coast and a few other countries like that. Or for the art scene circuit.
American/UK movies are global because more of the world speaks English.
No it is just that we export all around the world when US/UK export especially in the Occidental world. Many French films are for America Latina, Asia, Africa and not North America/Europe that's why you guys here don't know them.
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As for English, the langage of business, it is wrong!..
In fact this is what concerns people about Paris. I think that you still live in the Napoleonic era when French was important. Not facing facts and adjusting to it.
Fact to you. The emergence of the USA as a global dominant power ended all of this. If you think that commerce is just clicking a few keys you are sadly deluded.
In fact London might well survive, even as it becomes less optimal, because it is the largest English speaking country in Europe. The fact that there has yet to be a mass exodus from London is because there is great uncertainty about continental Europe. If the choices were easy London would already have become a city with millions of sq ft of commercial space.
And yes sq ft matters because these pesky Americans refuse to learn metric and the English are best suited to understand this quirk.
When China becomes the global power and we are all forced to speak Mandarin then we can debate how important English is as the dominant language of commerce.
As to Asians fleeing London for Paris. Let us see but I some how doubt it. Reports are that Chinese tourists have a tougher time in Paris, and as trivial as that might sound it becomes important in how comfortable Asian expats might feel living in Paris, compared to the more laissez faire multi cultural "do as you wish" London.
No it is just that we export all around the world when US/UK export especially in the Occidental world. Many French films are for America Latina, Asia, Africa and not North America/Europe that's why you guys here don't know them.
In fact this is what concerns people about Paris. I think that you still live in the Napoleonic era when French was important. Not facing facts and adjusting to it.
Fact to you. The emergence of the USA as a global dominant power ended all of this. If you think that commerce is just clicking a few keys you are sadly deluded.
In fact London might well survive, even as it becomes less optimal, because it is the largest English speaking country in Europe. The fact that there has yet to be a mass exodus from London is because there is great uncertainty about continental Europe. If the choices were easy London would already have become a city with millions of sq ft of commercial space.
And yes sq ft matters because these pesky Americans refuse to learn metric and the English are best suited to understand this quirk.
When China becomes the global power and we are all forced to speak Mandarin then we can debate how important English is as the dominant language of commerce.
As to Asians fleeing London for Paris. Let us see but I some how doubt it. Reports are that Chinese tourists have a tougher time in Paris, and as trivial as that might sound it becomes important in how comfortable Asian expats might feel living in Paris, compared to the more laissez faire multi cultural "do as you wish" London.
HM so why all studies say that French will overtake English in 2050? It is just maths!
You live in a anglo world and are biased. English, it is finished...no future!
London is dead as is the UK. Paris will overtake NYC! Trump's America is not trustworthy for Africa, Asia and South America and Europe.
Litlle England and USA won't make a global world...
French is the language of the future that all inteligent people are starting to learn because it is going to be dominant soon even you have never heard about it in the USA or UK.
English is certainly the most important language in the world today, but lots of anglo people tend to greatly overestimate its magical properties. There are lots of places that suck in the world that have English as an official language and-or local vernacular. A whole bunch of countries at the lower end of the HDI listing have English as their official language. Lots of U.S. states and cities are in the doldrums and the language there is still English.
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