外语好有什么用？薪水更高啊！升职更快啊！

语言能力和薪水多少有关系吗？双语能力对收入和就业的重大影响力，也许会让你感到吃惊。

Do money and language go hand in hand? You might be surprised at the powerful effects bilingualism has on income and employment.

对于怎么赚外快，每个人多少都会有点自己的想法，不过很少有人会意识到双语能力给自己带来的经济效益。

Everyone’s got their own ideas about how to make a little extra dough, but few people today realize the economic benefits of speaking two languages.

你不信？让我们看一下数据。《经济学人》的数据表明：懂超过一门语言的工人一生可以多赚67000美元，而且这只是一个保守数据；按较高水平估计，拥有双语能力的人可以因为他们的语言能力多获得128000美元。这意味着单语者（只说一种语言的人）可能会错过相当于一个新房子或豪华车的钱。哇喔。

Skeptical? Let’s look at the figures. Some number crunchers at The Economist have determined that workers with more than one language can earn an extra $67,000 over their lifetime. And that’s on the low side; according to estimates on the high end, bilinguals can make an extra $128,000 due to their language proficiency. That means monolinguals (that’s people who speak just one language) could be missing out on the equivalent of a new home or luxury car. Ouch.

让我们来看看一些更有趣的数据吧。根据语言学家和首席执行官瑞·恩克的说法，会两门语言不论在什么地方都能让你的薪水涨10%到15%。你觉得这个涨薪水平怎么样呢？

Let’s check out some more intriguing statistics. According to language expert and CEO Ryan McMunn, learning a second language boosts your salary anywhere from 10-15%. How’s that for a raise?

事实上，十分之九的欧洲招聘官将双语能力作为招聘人员的一个重要标准。相似地，一份关于北美招聘官的调查表明，66%的招聘官觉得双语能力在未来十年的重要性会稳步上升。

In fact, 9 out of 10 European recruiters consider bilingualism critical to hiring new employees. Similarly, a survey of North American job recruiters found 66% agreed that bilingualism will steadily gain importance in the next 10 years.

不过会两门语言会怎么样使你赚的更多呢？除了口译或者翻译这种工作以外（顺便说一句，根据劳动局预测，这两种职业的薪酬在接下来十年会增长28.7%），还有许多方面可以增加双语者的收入。

But how does knowing a second language really help you earn more? In addition to jobs like interpreters and translators (two professions, incidentally, which the Bureau of Labor predicts to grow 28.7% over the next 10 years), there are many ways learning a second language immediately boosts a worker’s chances at earning more.

对于想要脱颖而出的求职者来说，招聘经理会注意到那些有外语能力的人，往往在文化敏感度和理解力方面更突出。

For job seekers looking to stand out from the crowd, hiring managers notice the increased cultural sensitivity and intelligence that come with being able to speak a foreign language.

相似地，服务业的工作人员如果表现出自己正在学一门外语，则更有机会得到升职。不管是大公司还是小公司，他们总是需要员工能够出国沟通并开拓国外市场。

Similarly, service industry workers see an increased chance at promotion merely by showing that they’re in the process of learning a new language. Large or small, companies always need employees to travel to and communicate with foreign markets.

即使你仅仅能够“见面问好”，这就足以给你一个巨大的帮助了。对于做小生意的人来说，会一门外语是联系客户和社会的必不可少的纽带。

Just being able to “meet and greet” gives you an immense leg up. For those who run a small business, a second language can prove critical in connecting with your customers and community.

双语者所能得到的经济利益是无穷无尽的。所以，不要错过它——为了你自己，从今天开始学一门新的语言吧。

The list of financial benefits to bilingualism is endless. So don’t miss out — do yourself a favor and pick up a new language today.