English as a lingua franca in the Asian context : perspectives on identity in a multilingual world

Document Type

Journal article

Source Publication

Journal of Asian Pacific Communication

Publication Date

1-1-2016

Volume

26

Issue

2

First Page

175

Last Page

192

Publisher

John Benjamins Publishing Company

Keywords

Asia, Communication, English as a lingua franca, Identity, Language

Abstract

The global phenomenon of English as a lingua franca (ELF) has gained a great deal of attention among applied linguists in recent years. With English serving an increasingly important role as a lingua franca in the Asian context, this special issue aims to explore ELF in Asia through the lens of identity. It critically explores issues and concerns surrounding ELF and identity formation from an Asian perspective by investigating ELF communication involving Asian speakers of English and examining their voices and experiences which have been under-represented in the ELF literature. Building upon a small but growing body of literature on ELF and identity, this special issue brings together articles that examine different aspects of identity formation in ELF communication in several Asian contexts, addressing an array of issues including how identities are constructed and negotiated in lingua franca settings and how different aspects of identities are shaped by linguistic and socio-cultural norms of various ELF contexts and by complex interactions of power relations, language attitudes and ideologies.

DOI

10.1075/japc.26.2.01sun

Print ISSN

09576851

E-ISSN

15699838

Publisher Statement

Copyright © John Benjamins Publishing Company. Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.

Full-text Version

Publisher’s Version

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Sung, C. C. M. (2016). English as a lingua franca in the Asian context: Perspectives on identity in a multilingual world. Journal of Asian Pacific Communication, 26(2), 175-192. doi: 10.1075/japc.26.2.01sun

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