Why Language is the Gateway to Mobility

Since the beginning of this project my thesis has been that language mastery is the through-line for a successful re-location. There's the practical side of language, or language as a tool, where a certain level of fluency can get you through the first 30 days of visa hell or help assimilate your family into the weekly neighborhood get-together 10 years down the road.

But in the context of rising anti-immigration sentiment, which I've written about a lot recently, speaking the local language is starting to become table stakes for a successful move for a different reason.

I'm reminded of a Pew research study last year titled "Views on the importance of language to national identity." The world seems to be pretty aligned: if you want to be one of us, learn the language.

These results were education, age, and (with the exception of the US) mostly politically independent, and they highlight that language isn't simply a practical tool. It's also a social symbol, one that indicates you share in a certain value system, a particular way of seeing the world, a communal identity. Of course, fluency doesn’t always translate to belonging. Accents, names, and appearance mark differences, and plenty of expats assimilate with a smile and a good attitude. But language often remains the first and most visible bridge to joining a new community.

As borders harden and welcome mats wear thin, the local language is becoming an essential credential.