English as a Lingua Franca

That English is today the most widely used lingua
franca in practically all spheres of global
communication is an undisputed fact. Notwithstanding
the different varieties of English in use and the
varied levels of proficiency displayed, speakers of
ELF are able to not only understand each other but
also conduct high level transactions of every kind in
this medium. This book, unlike much of the work on
intercultural communication, highlights the successes
of non-native speakers in communicating in ELF rather
than the misunderstandings that are said to plague
such intercultural encounters. Specifically, the
analyses illustrate how common practices are employed
by participants in various interactional environments
to pre-empt problems of understanding from the outset
and to resolve them when they occur. The analyses
thus not only detail how ELF speakers negotiate and
collaborate to arrive at shared understanding, but
also shed light on the nature of their interactional
competence that allows them to compensate for any
lack of linguistic competence. The book should prove
useful to researchers and students working in the
fields of Intercultural Communication, World
Englishes and ELF.

Autorentext

Jagdish Kaur, Ph.D: Obtained a doctorate in Linguistics fromLancaster University in the United Kingdom. Senior Lecturer atthe University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Researchinterest lies mainly in the microanalysis of ELF interactions inorder to gain insights into how speakers of ELF communicate andachieve success in communication.

Klappentext

That English is today the most widely used linguafranca in practically all spheres of globalcommunication is an undisputed fact. Notwithstandingthe different varieties of English in use and thevaried levels of proficiency displayed, speakers ofELF are able to not only understand each other butalso conduct high level transactions of every kind inthis medium. This book, unlike much of the work onintercultural communication, highlights the successesof non-native speakers in communicating in ELF ratherthan the misunderstandings that are said to plaguesuch intercultural encounters. Specifically, theanalyses illustrate how common practices are employedby participants in various interactional environmentsto pre-empt problems of understanding from the outsetand to resolve them when they occur. The analysesthus not only detail how ELF speakers negotiate andcollaborate to arrive at shared understanding, butalso shed light on the nature of their interactionalcompetence that allows them to compensate for anylack of linguistic competence. The book should proveuseful to researchers and students working in thefields of Intercultural Communication, WorldEnglishes and ELF.