Past Project

Foreign-language communication on the eCommerce Websites (languages for eCommerce-LFEC)

Leonardo da Vinci Project, Finland, 2004-2007, FIN-04-B-LA-160510.

The aim of the project

• To create a four-part online course block in how to communicate on the web, especially in the context of electronic commerce.
• To create an educational tool for designers and translators of the websites of SME businesses to help them draw up foreign-language versions of their commercial websites. The focus of the products is on the target language and cross-cultural factors influencing verbal communication.
• In addition to the tool, a study block (four courses) concerning international commercial multilingual web communication will be developed:
  • International marketing communication in e-commerce
  • Cultural aspects of e-commerce design
  • Languages for eCommerce (theory)
  • Languages for eCommerce (practical part)

The target groups

• exporting SME-businesses that intend to internationalize their website by translating it into other languages
• students in different fields at universities/institutes of higher education;
• language and communication teachers and experts at universities/institutes of higher education.

Result of the project

The courses in e-commerce communication will be implemented yearly in cooperation with international partners in vocational and adult education. As English is the lingua franca of the web, it will be a permanent language in the project.

The courses are also drawn up in English. Other target languages are German and Spanish. They play a central role In the commercial context in Europe.

An additional product of the courses consists of a tool for multilingual communication on the web meant for those who draw up the WWW pages of SME businesses and those who translate the pages to facilitate their work.

Contact Information

Professor Yanqing Duan
E: yanqing.duan@beds.ac.uk