The use of language in the corporate world

Can people afford not to speak English in these times of globalisation ? Is English merely a common and practical aid to facilitate working together ? Alternatively, does the use of English reflect power struggles which exist between various groups in companies, or is it just an ideology which challenges the real role of language and, consequently, cultural and social factors which are at work in the corporate world ? A linguist and an industrialist discuss how language is used in business.