What language is in demand in the US?

Question

I've grown a fancy to Japanese, and wanted to become an interpreter of English for natives in Japan, or perhaps vice-versa. However, I believe there aren't that many Japanese in America, and English is widely-known already in Japan. Spanish is my second choice. Are Spanish interpreters needed in America? Are English interpreters needed in Japan? And finally, if both of these are no, what language is in high demand (and will continue to be for years ahead) in the US?

Answer 1

The highest demand exists for speakers of Arabic and Chinese (particularly Mandarin). I've seen this documented in many newspaper and newsmagazine articles.

Japan was the trendy language to learn a decade or two ago, but because so many Japanese businesspeople have learned English, it's not so critical for speakers of English to learn Japanese. Businesses don't have an unmet demand for translators of Japanese.

Learning Spanish will help you get a lot of jobs in America, but it probably won't help you get a job as a translator. There is definitely a demand for Spanish translators, but there are so many people in America who are natively bilingual and speak both Spanish and English (due to having Spanish-speaking households in an English-speaking society), and so people who aren't up to native fluency in Spanish will have a hard time finding work. On one hand, you could probably find a job translating English into Spanish for a company that's not near any people who speak Spanish. On the other hand, if the company isn't near people who speak Spanish, they dont' have much need for a Spanish translator.

Answer 2

Most Japanese from Japan DO NOT know English. The wealthy in Japan do. There is a need for translators for ALL languages. Now, Japanese probably isn't the most needed. It also depends on what you will call an interperator. Are you planning on working for the government (NO PAY!), privately, and you can also get jobs in school systems for foreigners. Chinese is probably the best language to learn, (if you can! So hard!), this is because the most widely spoken language in the entire world is Chinese. Spanish is a big language in the States and is getting bigger due to the lack of a strong immigration policy. I would also suggest Arabic. I grew up with Arabic so I couldn't tell you how hard it is to learn, but especially with such strong ties in the Middle East, it will probably become increasingly valubule in the next decade.

The bottom line is, if you know ANY other language than your native language, you open all kinds of opportunities. Even if you decide that you don't want to have anything to do with translating/interperating, if you put in an application to work somewhere and they see that you are fluent in Japanese, you will have big opportunities...

Answer 3

Well, with all of the trading and business going on, Chinese is in high demand. Unlike our other huge trading partner in Asia, India, not too many Chinese speak English. Also the Iraq war has demonstrated a huge need for those who speak middle eastern languages. There are too many Spanish/English bilingual people for that to be really in demand.

Answer 4

I would say Castillian or what ignorant people call "spanish".

Spanish does not exist. Spanish is referred to a person from the country of Spain. In Spain there are 5 different languages, Castillian, Catalan, Gallego, Basque and Aragonese.

Why are people from the USA are so low educated???

Answer 5

I would beleive that Spanish is the only one cause the Arabs know how to speak English a little too good. And some people here that are mexican cant speak any English

Answer 6

Yes Spanish interpreters are needed in American!

I have a friend who majored in Espanol many years ago and I thought he was nuts but I guess he had a vision!

Answer 7

spanish without a doubt

Answer 8

How about French?

Answer 9

Chinese?

Answer 10

canadian eh..