Ovum strikes again: Language Engineering 2000

Will language engineering cultivate jobs and prosperity in Europe?

British market research firm Ovum recently published a study commissioned by CEC DGXIII (Luxembourg) which assesses the potential economic impact of language engineering applications in Europe. The new report, called LE 2000, was prepared by Ovum in collaboration with OFIL and Fraunhofer IAO, and arrives at a particulary timely moment, with unemployment and job creation a hot topic on both sides of the Atlantic. With unemployment in the Union stubbornly hovering at ten percent of the labor force (eighteen million people), the Commission’s technology boosters can ill afford to be seen to be promoting new technology at the price of social welfare. Hence LE 2000.
     The report in its entirety spans five volumes, but the authors have thankfully prepared a highly readable twenty page executive summary which interested parties can obtain from Ovum. Volume one of the report in its entirety identifies nine main areas for application of language engineering and presents an economic benefit analysis, volume two presents the findings of a survey of eight hundred (potential) users of these technologies, volume three quantifies the market perspectives, volume four presents the findings of a survey of existing products in this field, and volume five assesses the development of language engineering technologies and their current level of application in Europe.

Is there a net gain in economic output and employment through application of information technology? In the language engineering context, the LE 2000 authors believe there is. They argue that better lang, uage engineering and greater user awareness can lead to better information and communication technology and services, with a correspondingly larger market share for European suppliers. It could also lead to better products, both embedded in services or available directly to users, which in turn could increase Europe’s competitiveness. The result, they believe, will be more jobs and higher output.
     The authors base their argument on a macro, economic model developed at the OECD. And, yes, they offer surprisingly bold scenarios: two hundred thousand new jobs and twenty-six billion ECU of additional output in the member states. All of this no doubt comes as very welcome news to DG XIII official Jan Roukens, the survey’s coordinator at the Commiss, ion, but he is also understandably apprehensive about this data being cited in an “un,nuanced” fashion. The report’s lead author Rose Lockwood appreciates the situation, and says, “either you believe in macro-economic theory, or you don’t. But one thing is certain: it is not a science.” Whether the LE 2000 report is best perceived as an internal CEC memorandum, a public policy document, or an “objective” independent report will ultimately dictate the usefulness of its conclusions. One thing is certain: the final word on this timely and urgent topic has not yet been said.

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