From Intercultural to Transcultural Communication: ELF in Multilingual Settings

Abstract

The study centres around the idea that English is a global lingua franca for intercultural communication among multilingual speakers. Drawing on relevant literature in the field, the paper will highlight the intercultural and transcultural nature of English used as a multilingua franca (EMF). In particular, the study will explore learners’ attitudes with the purpose to identify how learners perceive the complex relation between culture and language and the factors which may affect intercultural communication through English. The study will analyse two sample groups. The first group is composed of students belonging to different first language backgrounds, mainly non-native speakers of English studying in an Italian university. The second group is composed of both native and non-native English speakers studying in the US and Canada. An online link to a questionnaire was sent via email to all participants and was used as a research instrument to collect quantitative data. It is highlighted that English used in multilingual settings cannot be analysed as a static and bounded entity with precise boundaries. On the contrary, English has transcended boundaries, in a fluid, dynamic and flexible process where borders are fuzzy and blurred and languages do not reflect well-defined national cultures. Therefore, it is suggested that language teaching practices should incorporate intercultural/transcultural oriented issues to provide learners with a more comprehensive knowledge of the multifaceted global English world and encourage a richer cultural and linguistic experience.