Zur Bedeutung der deutschen Sprache in kleinen und mittleren Unternehmen in der Provinz Modena

Multilingualism and intercultural competencies are crucial for internationally active companies. In the province of Modena, a region with a highly interconnected economy, there are significant differences in the approach to language diversity: while some small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) maintain a monolingual orientation, others actively embrace multilingualism. The research project “Atteggiamento verso il multilinguismo come prerequisito per la comunicazione multilingue” at the University of Modena – Reggio Emilia examines these attitudes, particularly regarding the German language. Through an online survey and an analysis of corporate websites and social media, key insights into language policies in the region were gathered. This contribution presents preliminary findings and discusses the role of the German language for SMEs in Modena.