Business Lingua Franca Research Articles

Becoming BELF users: the learning process of business users of English and its conceptualization

AbstractThis paper examines the learning process of users of English as a business lingua franca (BELF) from the users’ own perspective and proposes a working model as a framework to understand this process. The discussion is based on a qualitative analysis of interviews of Japanese business people who have been raised and educated in Japan and have used BELF for professional purposes. The interviews explore the linguistic challenges that they have faced in performing their work in English and how they have dealt with these challenges. The prime focus of the discussion in this paper is how BELF users transformed themselves from “learners of English in the classroom” into “BELF users” during the early stage of their professional career. With this focus, I develop a working model of BELF users’ learning process by taking inspiration from the “Experiential Learning Theory” (Kolb 1984.Experiential learning: experience as the source of learning and development. New Jersey: Prentice Hall).Experiential Learning: Experience as The Source of Learning and Development. New Jersey: Prentice Hall), a widely used theoretical model of the learning process of adults, along with other theories in the field of management. The proposed model of BELF users places “learning from experience” of using English at the centre of the development of their English competence, supplemented by “learning from others” and “learning from studying.” This article concludes with pedagogical implications for professional training and higher education and beyond, as well as theoretical contributions to the understanding of English as a lingua franca (ELF)/BELF. By drawing on the detailed stories of Japanese BELF users, I present a dynamic view of the competence of (B)ELF users by considering the significant changes of their competence over time and space throughout their careers rather than a snapshot of their competence at a particular time.

Norwegian Business Professionals´ Need for and Use of English as a Business Lingua Franca (BELF) in Multinational Corporations

English is now the corporate language of many multinational corporations (MNCs) worldwide. However, when English is used as a shared language resource, a lingua franca, its use may be both fluid and local, and the characteristics of its local use should then be explored. This article therefore investigates English used as a Business Lingua Franca (BELF) in MNCs in Norway through task-based interviews with Norwegian business professionals about their need for and use of BELF. The findings indicate that business professionals need to use it frequently, and for both routine and more complex tasks, like demanding business meetings. While getting the job done was paramount to all, several associated NS-like ‘correct’ usage with ‘professionalism.’ Their BELF use was characterized by local, ‘company speak’, translingual practices and the accommodation of both non-native (NNS) and native (NS) speakers of English, and the ways in which the latter were accommodated displayed a more positive attitude to these interlocutors than has been found in similar studies. This article argues that English used as a corporate language is a complex phenomenon requiring business professionals to have a wide set of communication resources and the ability to use the language flexibly.

The shifting perception of Japanese BELF users towards English: a case study

AbstractThis paper examines attitudes of Japanese business people towards English by interviewing Japanese construction company employees working on international projects in Asian countries, where English is used as a lingua franca (ELF). The engineers took part in an intensive English course provided by their company before being transferred to overseas offices. Conducting individual/focus-group interviews multiple times during and after the English course, the study sheds light on the participants’ ambivalent and shifting perception of the language, which has both communicative and identifying function in different contexts of use. While these BELF (English as a business lingua franca) users were more content-focused and critical about a teacher’s form-focused approach during the intensive English language training, they are likely to identify more with native-speakers’ English rather than with their own English communication in BELF environments. The paper discusses that there are two reasons for their adherence to “standard” English, referring to the impact of “standard” English ideology (Cogo 2015, 2016b; Seidlhofer 2011, 2018) and social power (French and Raven 1959) that their interlocutors possess. First, the participants are constrained by their past learning experience as EFL (English as a foreign language) learners (Iino and Murata 2016) with little exposure to varieties of English other than the Inner Circle English models (Kachru 1992). Second, they believe in the advantage of using “correct” or “proper” English in producing a good image of their company or themselves. More specifically, while the participants regard English predominantly as a tool to fulfil their communicative goals when working with interlocutors who have relatively less power (e.g. subordinates, subcontractors), they feel that they need to speak “proper” English when communicating with people with more power and authority (e.g. superiors, clients), because they believe it is more relevant and accepted by the wider public. In other words, the result shows how the “standard” English ideology is deep-seated in the workplace communication discourse.

Cultural Knowledge as a Resource in BELF Interactions : a Longitudinal Ethnographic Study of Two Managers in Global Business

This paper contributes to the growing field of research on English as a business lingua franca (BELF) and extends discussion on the role of culture and cultural knowledge in business interactions. It aims to provide insights into the relationship between cultural knowledge and professionals’ management of BELF interactions. The paper is based on a longitudinal ethnographic study of two Finnish professionals’ trajectories of socialization into global working life and their work as managers. It draws on interview data in which the research participants orient to Finnish and Chinese professional and everyday practices and differences between them and thereby display their cultural knowledge. The main aim of the paper is to investigate, using discourse analysis, how this cultural knowledge, as depicted in interviews, manifests in BELF interactions and functions as a resource for transactional and relational purposes. The findings show that cultural knowledge emerges in explicit and implicit commentary about professional and everyday practices that relate to language proficiency, understanding, interpreting, work culture, safety issues, food and business matters. The findings also show that repetition, paraphrasing, summarizing, metalanguage, local languages, directives and humour are effective resources used by the two managers at work.

English as a Business Lingua Franca: A Discursive Analysis of Business E-Mails

In the current world of business, English as a Business Lingua Franca (BELF) is used in both spoken and written communication and underpinned by the paradigm of English as a Lingua Franca (ELF). While a number of research studies have been conducted exploring the spoken discourse facets of BELF users, relatively little attention has been paid hitherto to explore BELF written discourse facets, particularly, in business e-mail communication. This article examines how the BELF community discursively practices written discourse in their business e-mails. Data have been drawn from a pool of 92 e-mail messages collected from the business personnel engaged in international communications from five ready-made garments business organizations located in Bangladesh. These e-mails were exchanged between nonnative English speakers working as business personnel in the ready-made garments sector in Bangladesh and their counterparts—including both native and nonnative English speakers employed in six different countries. Applying both qualitative and quantitative content analyses, findings reveal that stylistically the components of e-mail messages are usually personalized, flexible and informal, and similar to ELF spoken discourse rather than ELF academic discourse and/or standard business letter writing. A wide range of language features have been identified in e-mails that are unique in this specific technology-based genre of communication. The awareness of these different facets of e-mail discourse has multiple implications in education.

You, Too, Will Speak English Soon: The Pros and Cons of English as a Business Lingua Franca

This paper discusses the increasing use of English as a Business Lingua Franca (BELF). In particular, this paper examines case studies from several companies located in diverse countries (Japan, Germany, and Finland), where English has been implemented as an internal lingua franca. The case studies show that most employees at these companies adjusted to BELF in a very pragmatic manner, while others considered the employment of BELF to be an intrusive course of action. This paper also investigates how BELF is viewed by native speakers of English and argues that attitudes towards foreign language learning by native speakers of English may constitute an impediment to efficient communication between speakers of different native languages and backgrounds. Finally, this papers shows that the acceptance of BELF, at least to a certain degree, is dependent on attitudes towards the global spread of English.

The Englishnization of Business: challenges and strategies

In the global business environment, the companies compete and cooperate in a common marketplace, frequently adopting a common language of communication. The use of English as a business lingua franca (BELF) in multinational and multicultural enterprises is thus no longer a novelty. Some corporations take it even further, proceeding to Englishnization, by purposefully implementing the use of English as the only language in all domains of communication and business operations. The decision of switching interactions to a specific language of choice might facilitate the communication, but it also presents new challenges to the users, due to the different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. This descriptive qualitative study takes a closer look at four reports of implementation of English as a common business language: a business organization in central Europe, two corporate mergers in Scandinavia, and the case of an online retail company in Japan, in order to identify the main difficulties encountered during the process. Based on these case-studies, the paper also summarizes a series of tools and strategies recommended to mitigate and overcome the obstacles.

Conceptualising English as a business lingua franca

Though a popular and somewhat controversial topic in discussions on language in IB, the notion of English as a (business) lingua franca/(B)ELF still lacks clear conceptualisation. This paper argues that research in IB and linguistics can be mutually complementary and supportive in conceptualising BELF, and that it is important to separate the concept of BELF from that of a common corporate language. The paper synthesises key works from both disciplines to conceptualise BELF as an emergent, multilingual use of English that adapts to the demands and resources of the specific context. It further argues that Wenger's concept of Communities of Practice offers a useful bridge between the disciplines, and that there is a need for more empirical research.

Conceptualising English as a business lingua franca

Though a popular and somewhat controversial topic in discussions on language in IB, the notion of English as a (business) lingua franca/(B)ELF still lacks clear conceptualisation. This paper argues that research in IB and linguistics can be mutually complementary and supportive in conceptualising BELF, and that it is important to separate the concept of BELF from that of a common corporate language. The paper synthesises key works from both disciplines to conceptualise BELF as an emergent, multilingual use of English that adapts to the demands and resources of the specific context. It further argues that Wenger's concept of Communities of Practice offers a useful bridge between the disciplines, and that there is a need for more empirical research.

Teaching Professional and Technical Communication: The Case of Technical Documentation

Abstract The present article highlights important aspects that need to be considered in the design of the academic linguistic training oriented to develop students’ technical documentation-related writing skills viewed as critical career-boosting skills that influence and condition employees’ promotion and graduates’ hiring chances. Technical documentation is an umbrella term covering different types of technical documents (e.g. technical reports, manufacturing standards, installation guides, quick references cards, troubleshooting guides, release notes, etc.) which, irrespective of usage or function, observe general characteristics and share essential features whose effective recognition and knowledgeability facilitate students’ upward career trajectory. The topic is discussed from the perspective of two teaching priorities - awareness of stylistic features characteristic of technical documentation and awareness of performance standards in terms of technical documentation production - within the ESP (English for Specific Purposes) and BELF (English as Business Lingua Franca) frameworks that prioritize the performative and lingua franca dimensions of the English language use in the currently-emerging globalized workplaces.

Power in International Business Communication and Linguistic Competence: Analyzing the Experiences of Nonnative Business People Who Use English as a Business Lingua Franca (BELF)

This article demonstrates the complex nature of the relationship between linguistic competence and the level of disempowerment that individuals perceive in global business contexts where English is increasingly used as a lingua franca. Most of the existing literature assumes that lower linguistic competence causes disempowerment, and that this relationship is largely static for individuals. This study, in contrast, finds that the sense of disempowerment caused by linguistic competence is negotiable as power dynamics between individuals can also be influenced by other relationships that act as potential sources of power. As a result, even for those with lower linguistic proficiency, perceived disempowerment can be reduced if other power-yielding factors compensate. An analysis of the narratives of 34 Japanese businesses demonstrates that such factors include value-of-information, goal sharing, and economic relationships. This article concludes by presenting a theoretical contribution to the conceptualization of the power of linguistic competence and the implications for educators.

国際ビジネスコミュニケーションにおけるパワーと言語力－英語のビジネス共通語化(BELF)の現場で働く日本人ビジネスパーソンの経験を聞く－

国際ビジネスコミュニケーションにおけるパワーと言語力－英語のビジネス共通語化(BELF)の現場で働く日本人ビジネスパーソンの経験を聞く－

Plurilingual resources as an asset in ELF business interactions

AbstractInternational business communication is sometimes perceived as being culture-neutral; however, the speakers’ linguacultural repertoires may be exploited as communicative resources in English as a Business Lingua Franca (BELF) interactions. Indeed, plurilingual phenomena can be inscribed in a view of ELF communication that sees such practices as a potential asset in intercultural communication. Multicultural competence – which may include the exploitation and integration of other linguacultures – alongside BELF competence and business-specific knowledge is identifiable as an essential skill for successful interactions on the workplace. This paper aims at exploring the domain of internationally oriented business communication in English by analyzing naturally occurring data of workplace interactions involving non-native speakers of English. Specifically, the analysis will look at how non-English linguistic and cultural elements are incorporated in ELF talk in business contexts. The Professional Business section of the VOICE corpus will be analyzed to this purpose through a qualitative approach in order to shed light on the functions of L1 and LN (other languages) cultural and linguistic elements in BELF interactions and their role in conducting successful business transactions.

Working with Language: A Refocused Research Agenda for Cultural Leadership Studies

This paper critically reviews existing contributions from the field of cultural leadership studies with a view to highlighting the conceptual and methodological limitations of the dominant etic, cross‐cultural approach in leadership studies and illuminating implications of the relative dominance and unreflective use of the English language as the academic and business lingua franca within this field. It subsequently outlines the negative implications of overlooking cultural and linguistic multiplicity for an understanding of culturally sensitive leadership practices. In drawing on lessons from this critical review and the emergent fields of emic, non‐positivist cultural leadership studies, this analysis argues that the field of cultural leadership studies requires an alternative research agenda focused on language multiplicity, which enables the field to move towards emic, qualitative research that helps to empower individual cultural voices and explore cultural intra‐ and interrelationships, tensions and paradoxes embedded in leadership processes. The paper concludes by offering suggestions on methodological approaches for emic cultural leadership studies that are centred on the exploration of language as a cultural voice.

Global public relations and communication management: A European perspective

The article reviews the status of international public relations research and reports on a pan-European study into international communication practices in the corporate sector. It is based on a quantitative survey of 579 heads of corporate communication from 21 European countries and a semi-structured qualitative survey of 42 chief communication officers (CCOs) in large multinationals from 12 European countries. Results reveal that international public relations are a part of daily business for more than 90 percent of CCOs in Europe, with nearly a quarter of them dealing with 20 countries or more. Sensitivity to multiple cultures while preserving core identity and the ability to change is the main challenges, along with the language(s) problem where introduction of English as the business lingua franca is only a partial solution. Only about a half of CCOs reported solid structures for international public relations operations.

English in multinational companies: implications for teaching “English” at an international business school

Abstract In recent years, the use of English has become everyday practice in multinational companies (MNCs), and it has been investigated in three disciplines: applied linguistics, international management, and corporate communication, all of which can be housed in international business schools. While reviewing research in these disciplines, we ask the question: how does the research inform the teaching of “English”? By taking an example of an international business school located in a small non-English-speaking country, we present the educational environment and the needs of future business graduates before moving on to demonstrating a continuum of English as a shared language constructed on the basis of the disciplines. The continuum extending from “official English” to “working language” BELF (English as Business Lingua Franca) illustrates different uses that English as a shared language meets in the MNC environment and in the students' future work contexts. On the basis of this discussion, we conclude our paper by presenting the implications of the different conceptualizations of English for the teaching of “English” at an international business school.

“Just wanna give you guys a bit of an update”: Insider perspectives on business presentations in Hong Kong

Oral presentations are a core component of many business English courses and yet they have been the subject of surprisingly little research in contexts where English functions as a business lingua franca. This article seeks to narrow the gap between the office and the classroom by examining the nature and frequency of English-language presentations in Hong Kong’s major service industries and the challenges that Cantonese-speaking professionals working in these industries experience when planning, organising and delivering presentations in a second language. The article draws on a substantial set of quantitative and qualitative data: two large-scale questionnaire surveys, 31 semi-structured interviews, four case studies and 10 English-mediated conference calls. The findings indicate that presenting in English is a regular part of local professionals’ lives, particularly those working for foreign-owned companies, and that they find four aspects of presentations particularly challenging: engaging the interest of their audience, dealing with questions spontaneously and authoritatively, communicating in a natural spoken style and incorporating PowerPoint slides smoothly into the flow of their presentations.

Perspectives on the Use of English as a Business Lingua Franca in Hong Kong

This article presents the findings of a large-scale, multifaceted investigation into the use of English as a business lingua franca in Hong Kong’s key service industries. The findings were derived from four sources: semistructured interviews with 28 Chinese professionals; four “week-in-the-life” case studies, which include an all-day office observation; analyses of telephone conference recordings and email chains; and a questionnaire survey involving more than 2,000 respondents. The evidence suggests that English, particularly its written form, plays a crucial role in business communication, although the nature and extent of its use vary according to an array of institutional and individual factors, such as a company’s ownership and a professional’s duties. The qualitative data illustrate the interplay between the two written (English, Chinese) and three spoken codes (English, Cantonese, Putonghua) in workplace communication, and particularly the symbiotic relationship between written English and Cantonese.

Adapted or standardized copy: Is non-cultural English the answer?

International advertisers often wonder whether to adapt their copy to each country they operate in or to globally standardize their message, especially in non-Anglophone markets. While the current business lingua franca is English, how easily can it be introduced into advertising without alienating consumers, and would a simpler English message work better? Does the culture of a brand also influence the impact of English use in non-Anglophone markets? This research examines the interaction between language choice and brand culture in a non-Anglophone market. Specifically, the studies review the value of Globish, a non-cultural form of English. The results suggest that using standardized English copy has relevance in non-Anglophone countries for global brands, but that Globish can also be useful for local brands seeking to upgrade their value in a local market. Globish is shown to be an interesting alternative option in adapting or standardizing advertising strategies. Managerial implications close the paper.

The Evolution of English as the Business Lingua Franca

This study questions the conventional view of the indirectness of Chinese communication. Drawing on qualitative interviews with Finnish and Chinese business professionals, the authors examine the effect of cultural identity on the directness of the communication of Chinese professionals who work for internationally operating Finnish companies located in Beijing and Shanghai, China, and who use English as the shared language with their Finnish colleagues. Three components of cultural identity (i.e., vocation as an international business professional, fairly young age, and the use of English as the business lingua franca) are particularly relevant in the participants’ professional communication and stimulated its openness and directness. The study finds that the evolution of English as the business lingua franca can be detected in the signs of convergence identified in Chinese and Finnish professional communication.