Listening to America’s New Generation in a Globalized World

In the age of globalization, translators and interpreters are like gatekeepers in a world where the myriad of different human languages have become metaphorical keys that can open the “doors” to new and emerging markets. American public opinion pollster and author John Zogby has now introduced the concept of a globalized generation that is comprised of the young adults of the United States. Zogby contends that the “First Global” generation of Americans is outward looking and maintains a genuine connection with the rest of the world—attributes that are shared by multi-linguists and the companies that they represent.

Writing for the Financialist website, Zogby and his co-author Joan Snyder Kuhl noted that previous generations have responded to the difficulties of their eras with a patriotic insularity; in contrast, the First Globals are more tolerant, accepting, ethnically diverse, and possess global ambitions. Technological advancements have been cited as a significant factor in the development of this generation, as instruments such as the Internet and cellphones have established a multitude of international relationships that can be called upon at a moment’s notice and do not rely upon close physical proximities.

Zogby’s April 2013 poll revealed that 32 percent of the age cohort in which the First Globals fit prefers to be referred to as “citizens of the planet Earth“—a higher proportion than all of the other age groups—First Globals are less likely to perceive American culture as superior to others, and 35 percent were likely to “live and work in the capital of a foreign country.” Zogby and Snyder Kuhl also acknowledge that this new generation of Americans expressed overwhelming support for marriage equality and the authors expressed hope that such open-minded attitudes will herald new kinds of foreign relations for the U.S. Interestingly, a July 2012 Zogby poll found that 71 percent of First Globals considered it important or somewhat important “to have the opportunity to do something that changes the world.”—it seems that the proof is in the data.

Language specialists break down barriers on a daily basis, and continue to unite the world’s incredibly diverse population through translation and interpretation. The findings that have emerged from the research of Zogby Analytics appears to be supportive of such work, and it is possible that the future will consist of a greater number of bi-linguists, multi-linguists, and even polyglots. However, Zogby and Snyder Kuhl conclude their commentary with a cautionary statement: “But to live up to its potential, this generation needs to be understood, respected – and unleashed.” It seems that crossing the language barrier is not enough, as the First Globals also need to be listened to.

Photo credit: Commonwealth Youth Programme