In the case of the public utilities what was asked was the degree of fluency in Catalan in the organisation: “What percentage know Catalan to the level required by their work?”

Table 2. 'What percentage know Catalan to the level required
by their work?'

2.4 Language medium in internal training in the company

As regards the language used as medium in training schemes organised by the company, we find that Catalan is said to be used 62% of the time (according to the questionnaires) either exclusively or in conjunction with 62%, while in public service companies the figure was 43%. It should be pointed out that in the case of the figures for public service companies, the response  "in Catalan and Spanish alike"  was not available, resulting in more polarised results.

Table 3. Language used in in-house training of employees

2.5 Linguistic criteria in selection of new staff

51% of the multinationals and 38% of the public service companies state that knowledge of the Catalan language is a prerequisite for all applicants for certain posts in these companies; while 25% and 24% respectively consider this simply as a plus or advantage to take into consideration.

Table 4. Linguistic criteria in selecting new staff

Recently, Silvio Rendón has shown, in “The catalan premium: Language and employment in Catalonia” that the fact of knowing Catalan is a premium when seeking employment in Catalonia. This finding points up the fact that firms ask for knowledge of Catalan as a requirement or plus when taking on new employees.

3. Language attitudes

3.1 Evaluation of advantages and disadvantages

52% of the multinationals and 71% of the public service companies believe that the use of Catalan in their company brings with it advantages, as opposed to 15% and 33% respectively who see rather disadvantages or drawbacks.

Figure 3. Advantages and disadvantages in using Catalan
in the company

3.2 Main advantages adduced

68% of the multinationals stated that it enhanced communication. Resumed under this heading were aspects such as “better attention (to customers)”, “giving a good image”, “giving better service”, “prestigious image” and “image of "closeness" (accessibility, etc.). The second advantage cited (13%) was “better relationship with Catalan speakers” 

Figure 4. Advantages in using Catalan in the multinationals

In the case of public service companies also, 57% of the companies in the sample state that the main and most obvious advantage is that Catalan enhances communication. The second advantage cited (19%) is “better fit with the cultural and language situation”.

Figure 5. Advantages in using Catalan in public service companies

3.3 Main disadvantages adduced

In the case of the multinationals and the disadvantages they adduce, we find no single predominant argument. Difficulty in relating with customers (28%) and “the Spanish-speaking  market” (19%) and increased costs (17%) are the three perceived drawbacks that are most frequent of the minority (less than 50%-level) responses obtained. 

Figure 6. Disadvantages in using Catalan in multinational companies

For the public services companies the main drawback is the difference in economic costs involved in using Catalan, and the second most-stated drawback that we find is difficulty in communicating with non-Catalan speakers in Catalonia and with users outside Catalonia.

Figure 7. Disadvantages in using Catalan in public service companies

3.4 The intention of increasing use of Catalan

These perceived advantages and disadvantages can lead companies to increase or not increase the use of the Catalan language. 15% of the multinationals intend to increase use, as against 62%of public service companies. So here there is a clear difference, owing above all to the territory covered by the two types of company.

Figure 8. The intention of increasing use of catalan in the company

4. Interest in language services

4.1  Rating of language services

On a scale of 0 to 10, the three language services most highly rated by both the multinationals and the public service companies are software in Catalan, vocabularies and terminology. These three services are characterised by their comprehensible material and easy and rapid application by companies. The other services are less well known and probably demand greater commitment, and are usually more costly to apply. A fact to note here is that the most highly rated services for both types of company are in the area where there is lowest use, as we have seen: in Information Technology / software. That is good news, interesting to the services that are helping to increase use where this is low.

Figure 9.  Interest in the language services offered