Getting Things Done in the L1 and L2: Bilingual Immigrant Women's Use of Communication Strategies in Entrepreneurial Contexts

Abstract

The article examines the communication strategies of four bilingual, immigrant women entrepreneurs within the context of their businesses. The analysis revealed that L1 and L2 use is crucial to the business success of the participants. L1 conversations consisted of largely private speech and directives. The women positioned themselves as powerbrokers by creating cultural bridges and community networks with their in-group workers while facilitating business interaction with out-group customers. L2 use consisted of the mastery of basic conversation openings and closings, and various rapport-building methods such as small talk and socially expanded talk. Rapport-building strategies enabled the women to create lasting relationships as well as extended opportunities for English-language development. The study found that immigrant women entrepreneurs have a mastery of the pragmatic functions of speech that allow them to be competent communicators who know how to go about their business and how to get things done in the workplace.