While clearly the right language is
the one spoken in target markets and by key customers and suppliers, depending
on the difficulty in learning the language, you need to think carefully about
what level you expect to achieve, and how the language will be actually used.
In some territories, for example the Far East, much more may be achieved through
a good understanding of the culture
as the languages can be very difficult to achieve competence in.
Also
consider languages which can be used as a lingua franca (common language) - for
example German and Russian in parts of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
However, be aware of potential political sensitivities.
Your provider can
advise you on the time needed to achieve competence and the relative difficulty
of languages.
