"English as Corporate Language" in the Multilingual Reality of Multinational Companies

Autor/inn/en	Kankaanranta, Anne; Karhunen, Päivi; Louhiala-Salminen, Leena
Titel	"English as Corporate Language" in the Multilingual Reality of Multinational Companies
Quelle	In: Multilingua: Journal of Cross-Cultural and Interlanguage Communication, 37 (2018) 4, S.331-351 (21 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0167-8507
DOI	10.1515/multi-2017-0077
Schlagwörter	Corporations; English (Second Language); Second Language Learning; Native Speakers; Work Environment; Official Languages; Employees; Business Communication; Multilingualism; Language Usage; Disadvantaged; Language Planning; Language Tests; Testing; Power Structure; Personnel Evaluation; Language Proficiency; Language Attitudes; Interviews; French; Spanish; Portuguese; International Organizations; Nonprofit Organizations; Foreign Countries; United Kingdom; Finland + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Unternehmen; English as second language; English; Second Language; Englisch als Zweitsprache; Zweitsprachenerwerb; Muttersprachler; Arbeitsmilieu; Office language; Amtssprache; Employee; Arbeitnehmer; Beschäftigter; Unternehmenskommunikation; Mehrsprachigkeit; Multilingualismus; Sprachgebrauch; Sprachwechsel; Language test; Sprachtest; Testdurchführung; Testen; Personalbeurteilung; Language skill; Language skills; Sprachkompetenz; Sprachverhalten; Interviewing; Interviewtechnik; Französisch; Spanisch; Portugiesischunterricht; International organisation; International organisations; International organization; Internationale Organisation; Nonprofit-Organisation; Ausland; Großbritannien; Finnland
Abstract	This conceptual paper advances the notion of "English as corporate language" in the multilingual reality of multinational companies (MNC) with novel insights from the English as lingua franca (ELF) paradigm of sociolinguistics. Inspired by Goffman, Erving. 1959. "The presentation of self in everyday life." New York: Doubleday. dramaturgical metaphor of social life, we develop the notion of English as corporate language by making a distinction between the frontstage official language used in corporate communication and backstage working language used in interactions among MNC employees. We argue that the former approaches the notion of English as a native language and the latter represents ELF in the business domain (BELF); they are different in terms of understanding language competence, multilingualism and role of language in building legitimacy. Our conclusions imply first, that the frontstage English may not always be accessible to the backstage BELF users, due to which employees may feel disadvantaged or disempowered. Second, the use of formal language testing in recruitment and performance appraisal may transform into a gate-keeping mechanism that leads to power inequalities. In our recommendations, we call for an emancipatory language policy accepting different standards of English for different positions and adopting ideas of the Plain Language initiative to better reach all MNC employees. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01