Language choice at a Chinese subsidiary of a Spanish bank

Abstract

This study explored language management in Banco Santander in China, a multilingual workplace where two major languages, Spanish and Chinese, are used along with English as a lingua franca. We collected data through conducting interviews with four senior managers in charge of human resources, strategic development, retailing and commercial banks to understand how languages are used and managed in this Spanish bank. Analyses of data revealed consistencies and inconsistencies between employees’ choices of language and beliefs as mediated by relevant social cultural, corporate and linguistic factors. The findings shed light on the complexity of language management at a Spanish bank in China against the backdrop of the changing scenario of foreign direct investment. They highlight the importance for multinational corporations to manage languages in response to multilingual challenges at workplaces in China.