非通用外语教育对国际贸易的促进作用——基于长三角地区的实证研究

The Promotion Effect of Non-general Foreign Language Education on International Trade:an Empirical Study in the Yangtze River Delta Region

本文从语言经济学角度出发,研究长三角地区12种非通用外语的学习人数与该地区国际贸易额的相关性。研究发现:发展非通用外语教育可以有效降低语言距离对贸易的负面影响,促进双边贸易额的增长;非通用外语人才对出口贸易的促进作用更为显著;对象国经济发展水平会影响到非通用外语人才需求,长三角地区对掌握发达国家官方语言的非通用外语人才有稳定需求,但对掌握发展中国家官方语言的非通用外语人才仅在出口贸易方面的需求有限。基于上述发现,本文建议:长三角地区相关高校需要加快调整外贸领域外语人才培养结构,加强非通用外语人才的培养;制定相应的“非通用外语+”复合型人才培养规划;采取差异化发展策略,重点培养掌握发达国家官方语言的外语人才;建设长三角非通用外语人才信息及就业数据库平台,畅通非通用外语人才就业渠道;发展壮大区域外向型语言产业等。

International trade is an important factor in promoting the international communication of languages.The Yangtze River Delta Region(YRDR)is one of the regions with the highest level of foreign trade development in China.This paper examines the relationship between the number of learners of 12 non-general foreign languages in the YRDR and international trade volume in this Region,from the perspective of language economics.The results show that the development of nongeneral foreign language education(NFLE)can effectively reduce the negative impact of language distance on trade and promote the steady growth of bilateral trade volume.Non-general foreign language talents have more significant roles in promoting export trade.The economic development of the target country affects the demand for non-general foreign language talents.There is a stable demand for non-general foreign language talents who master the official languages of developed countries in the YRDR,but a limited demand for non-general foreign language talents with official languages of developing countries in export trade.Based on the above findings,this paper suggests that relevant universities in the Yangtze River Delta need to speed up the adjustment of foreign language talent training structure in the field of foreign trade and strengthen the training of non-general foreign language talents;formulate training plans for comprehensive“non-general language+”talents;adopt differentiated development strategies and focus on training foreign language talents who master the official languages of developed countries;built a database platform for information and employment of non-general foreign language talents in the YRDR,and open up employment channels for non-general foreign language talents;and develop and expand regional export-oriented language industries.