Linguistic diversity in the international workplace: Language ideologies and processes of exclusion

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Standard

Linguistic diversity in the international workplace : Language ideologies and processes of exclusion. / Lønsmann, Dorte.

In: Multilingua, Vol. 33, No. 1-2, 01.2014, p. 89-116.

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Harvard

Lønsmann, D 2014, 'Linguistic diversity in the international workplace: Language ideologies and processes of exclusion', Multilingua, vol. 33, no. 1-2, pp. 89-116. https://doi.org/10.1515/multi-2014-0005

APA

Lønsmann, D. (2014). Linguistic diversity in the international workplace: Language ideologies and processes of exclusion. Multilingua, 33(1-2), 89-116. https://doi.org/10.1515/multi-2014-0005

Vancouver

Lønsmann D. Linguistic diversity in the international workplace: Language ideologies and processes of exclusion. Multilingua. 2014 Jan;33(1-2):89-116. https://doi.org/10.1515/multi-2014-0005

Author

Lønsmann, Dorte. / Linguistic diversity in the international workplace : Language ideologies and processes of exclusion. In: Multilingua. 2014 ; Vol. 33, No. 1-2. pp. 89-116.

Bibtex

@article{de9ac985b8f14a3482e107ff357b3794,
title = "Linguistic diversity in the international workplace: Language ideologies and processes of exclusion",
abstract = "This article draws on a study of language choice and language ideologies in an international company in Denmark. It focuses on the linguistic and social challenges that are related to the diversity of language competences among employees in the modern workplace. Research on multilingualism at work has shown that employees may be excluded from informal interactions and from access to power structures on the basis of language skills in the company's language(s). The data discussed here show that in the modern workplace, employees' linguistic competences are diverse; international employees often have competence in the company's lingua franca but lack skills in the local language while some 'local' employees lack competence in the corporate language (typically English). This can lead to the sociolinguistic exclusion of either group. In conclusion, the article relates these processes of exclusion to two language ideologies: one about an essential connection between language and nation and one about a hierarchy of English users.",
keywords = "Language ideologies, Linguistic diversity, Multilingual workplaces, Social exclusion, Social identity theory",
author = "Dorte L{\o}nsmann",
year = "2014",
month = jan,
doi = "10.1515/multi-2014-0005",
language = "English",
volume = "33",
pages = "89--116",
journal = "Multilingua - Journal of Cross-Cultural and Interlanguage Communication",
issn = "0167-8507",
publisher = "Mouton de Gruyter",
number = "1-2",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Linguistic diversity in the international workplace

T2 - Language ideologies and processes of exclusion

AU - Lønsmann, Dorte

PY - 2014/1

Y1 - 2014/1

N2 - This article draws on a study of language choice and language ideologies in an international company in Denmark. It focuses on the linguistic and social challenges that are related to the diversity of language competences among employees in the modern workplace. Research on multilingualism at work has shown that employees may be excluded from informal interactions and from access to power structures on the basis of language skills in the company's language(s). The data discussed here show that in the modern workplace, employees' linguistic competences are diverse; international employees often have competence in the company's lingua franca but lack skills in the local language while some 'local' employees lack competence in the corporate language (typically English). This can lead to the sociolinguistic exclusion of either group. In conclusion, the article relates these processes of exclusion to two language ideologies: one about an essential connection between language and nation and one about a hierarchy of English users.

AB - This article draws on a study of language choice and language ideologies in an international company in Denmark. It focuses on the linguistic and social challenges that are related to the diversity of language competences among employees in the modern workplace. Research on multilingualism at work has shown that employees may be excluded from informal interactions and from access to power structures on the basis of language skills in the company's language(s). The data discussed here show that in the modern workplace, employees' linguistic competences are diverse; international employees often have competence in the company's lingua franca but lack skills in the local language while some 'local' employees lack competence in the corporate language (typically English). This can lead to the sociolinguistic exclusion of either group. In conclusion, the article relates these processes of exclusion to two language ideologies: one about an essential connection between language and nation and one about a hierarchy of English users.

KW - Language ideologies

KW - Linguistic diversity

KW - Multilingual workplaces

KW - Social exclusion

KW - Social identity theory

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84899692065&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1515/multi-2014-0005

DO - 10.1515/multi-2014-0005

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:84899692065

VL - 33

SP - 89

EP - 116

JO - Multilingua - Journal of Cross-Cultural and Interlanguage Communication

JF - Multilingua - Journal of Cross-Cultural and Interlanguage Communication

SN - 0167-8507

IS - 1-2

ER -

ID: 238451423