Working Language

This chapter deals with these two aspects of ensuring linguistic interoperability. It traces the way in which the influence of English at NATO increased as that of French waned and looks at the ways in which NATO responded to the need to ensure that proficiency in English was at a sufficiently high level across the forces to secure interoperability. It also examines the efforts of NATO to standardize the use of terminology across the organization. These actions amounted in essence to the development of an institutional language policy.

• This chapter deals with these two aspects of ensuring linguistic interoperability. It traces the way in which the influence of English at NATO increased as that of French waned and looks at the ways in which NATO responded to the need to ensure that proficiency in English was at a sufficiently high level across the forces to secure interoperability. It also examines the efforts of NATO to standardize the use of terminology across the organization. These actions amounted in essence to the development of an institutional language policy.