As a vehicle of communication and culture, language will play a significant role in building the “Belt and Road.” In terms of the functions of language, it will serve the process in the following ways.

Above all, language functions as an instrument for communication. The construction of the “Belt and Road” has brought wider, more frequent and deeper international communication and cooperation, which has led to a more complicated language environment that requires increasing and diversifying linguistic services.

In addition to the official languages of nations along the proposed routes of the “Belt and Road,” we should also be familiar with regional languages that are commonly used and even local dialects. Furthermore, training is needed to serve professional purposes, such as economic and trade negotiations, mediation of disputes, and academic cooperation.

However, China still has far to go to meet the needs of basic communication. And the lack of linguistic talent will be an obstacle to the implementation of the initiative.

People-to-people connections can be achieved through language exchanges, thus creating favorable conditions for economic cooperation and political dialogues.
 

Since there are differences and even conflicts in politics, territory, resources, religion, ethnic groups, language and culture of those nations along the routes, people-to-people connections are of vital importance to the construction of the “Belt and Road.” All nations should strengthen communication, reduce misunderstandings,  and increase mutual trust and friendship in order to win more support.

The “Belt and Road” initiative has been warmly received worldwide. And a variety of statements, interpretations and comments on it have appeared in the media. However, further examination shows that some expressions, especially those aimed at foreign audiences, need to be reconsidered. It is urgent to probe into the basic idea of the initiative and construct an easy-to-understand discourse system in line with politics, economy and culture of the nations along the routes. In expressing key concepts in particular, attention should be paid to choice of words, interpretation and translation in order to get across our purposes and avoid misunderstandings.

Also, ancient records about the history of exchanges among peoples and documents about the Silk Road may uncover experiences that can guide the construction of the “Belt and Road.” Moreover, it is important to study the materials about the spread of intangible cultural heritages to promote cultural cooperation. And attention should also be paid to avoid linguistic taboos in different cultures to enhance mutual understanding and respect.

In addition, all nations can cooperate in developing applications to provide resources and products for language learning and set up a platform for language services. On this basis, cultural products and tourist programs can be developed, thus facilitating the construction of the “Belt and Road.”
 

Last but not the least, more than 80 percent of information is presented through language. Thus, all media can learn about the initiative and analyze the information in real time, which in turn can provide reference to its implementation.

To improve language services, it is important to cultivate and diversify the talent pool above all. We should take advantage of modern technologies, such as the Internet and mobile communication, to build multilingual services and consultation platforms that cover a wide range.

In addition to traditional tools, such as small paper dictionaries and pocket phrase books, new technologies need to be employed, like portable electronic dictionaries, embedded translators, multilingual readers as well as multimedia learning devices.
 

Extending over many nations along the routes, the “Belt and Road” is being constructed within a multilingual and a diverse geopolitical context. The implementation of the long-term project should be backed up by a coordinated language service system that is diversified, complementary and effective.

 

Zhao Shiju is a professor from the College of Chinese Language and Literature at Wuhan University.