Language in a border landscape
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2025-07-31
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en
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This master thesis examines the relationship between the declining knowledge of German language in the Netherlands on the one hand and cross-border activities of businesses and changing cross-border commuting in the Dutch-German border region on the other hand. People in the Netherlands are less proficient in German nowadays than in the past. This causes an increasing language barrier, and possible effects of this onto business-to-business and business-to-consumer activities of businesses in the border region are studied in this research, as well as the role that language plays in people’s choice to look for a job abroad.
This study applied an explanatory sequential research design. It demonstrates that language barriers play a different role in business-to-business and business-to-consumer activities in the border region. In business-to-consumer activities, having at least some passive knowledge is important, especially when the value of the products that are traded increases. Language barriers hinder businesses more in trading with businesses across the border, but other non-cultural factors play a significant role as well. In cross-border labour, language has less influence onto peoples decision-making process to participate in cross-border commuting. Recognition of diplomas and the current job market in the Netherlands are more important here.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen