infonet-economy

This paper aims to uncover the normative assumptions that guide language
studies in international business. Relying on sociolinguistics and cosmopolitan
theory, we point to the possibility of conceiving language as a social practice
rather than a discrete entity, and understanding globalization as the entanglement
between universality and particularity rather than treating these two
notions separately. Combining these linguistic and global assumptions, we arrive
at three different research approaches to study linguistic performances in global
work settings: monological lingua franca, monological multilingualism and
multilingual franca. As the latter approach is unexplored, we develop the third
option which underlines a human-centered multilingualism that conceives
language as a social activity in which speakers mobilize multiple linguistic
resources to express voice. The advantages of such an approach are its ability to
capture the complexities of contemporary global life and its emphasis on a new
understanding of multilingualism and diversity that truly goes beyond any
kind of monolingualism. In terms of practice implications, a multilingual franca
approach provides space for emancipatory politics through allowing mixed
language use.