‘Lingua franca’ negotiations: towards an interactional approach

TLDR

Kachru observes that research on English as a non‑native language is dominated by deficit or deviational approaches, and notes a lack of an interactional perspective that examines how language is used interactively to achieve social goals. This paper seeks to develop an interactional approach to English and outlines its theoretical foundations. The authors employ ethnomethodological and conversation analytic methods to analyze international trading negotiations conducted in lingua franca English, defining the term, distinguishing intranational from international use, and exploring how negotiating behavior and language become internationalized.

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Kachru [ World Englishes , 9 , 3–20 (1990)] observes that studies in English as a non‐native language are dominated by either ‘deficit’ or ‘deviational’ approaches. What is lacking, he notes, is an interactional approach, i.e. one which considers how language is used interactively to accomplish social goals. This paper attempts to develop the theme of an ‘interactional approach’ and discusses its theoretical underpinnings. The proposed method entails the adoption of ethnomethodological perspectives on social knowledge, combined with conversation analytic interests in detailing the locally managed character of spoken interaction. The setting of international (trading) negotiations, conducted in ‘lingua franca’ English, provides the focal point for discussion. The term ‘lingua franca’ English is introduced to describe the language used exclusively by and among non‐native speakers. A distinction is made between: (1) intranational lingua franca, and (2) international lingua franca. Finally, the notion of ‘internationalization’ of negotiating behaviour and language use is discussed.