How big is the market for language learning materials
and software? WHo are the biggest providers of software and instruction?
For Corporate? For Government? For Consumer? THis would include
Schools, places like Berlitz and the big players who I am trying to
identify. It would not necessarily inlcude Interpreters. I would like
a breakdown in languages, but am sure English is big.
Thanks.

The market seems to be growing as we are increasingly going and moving
to other countries.  A big provider of software right now is Microsoft
who just recently released a foreign language trainer for French and
Spanish called "Encarta Language Learning French Deluxe" or "Encarta
Language Learning Spanish Deluxe."  This is based off of memory so I
hope this helps somewhat.


Additional Links:

Encarta Language Learning Spanish Deluxe
http://www.encarta.msn.com/products/info/LearnSpanish.asp

Encarta Language Learning French Deluxe
http://www.encarta.msn.com/products/info/learnfrench.asp

Try these articles (and maybe also consider contacting the experts):

Calderón-Young, Estelita. "Technology for teaching foreign languages
among community college students." Community College Journal of
Research and Practice Vol. 23.2 March 1999.

Kuntz, Patricia S. "Distance Education Technology-- Foreign Language
Instruction in the Central States." Paper presented at the Annual
meeting of the Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign
Languages (Milwaukee, WI) March 1998.

And according to this site -
http://www.ellis.com/company/marketinformation.shtml - around 2
billion people learn English as a Foreign Language; and the market is
estimated globally  up to $10 billion.

I may be able to help a little more if you seperate this qquestion
into smaller ones - your question is a bit too wide...

However - hope that helped a little.