English as a Lingua Franca: Practice and Research

Provides clear and comprehensive guidance to advanced students to perform their own research in the fast-changing field of English as a Lingua Franca

English as a Lingua Franca: Practice and Research serves as a vital means of communication among speakers from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds, facilitating connections across global domains such as academia, business, and healthcare. English as a Lingua Franca: Practice and Research equips readers with the tools to explore the dynamic phenomenon of English as a Lingua Franca (ELF), tracing its history, linguistic characteristics, and societal implications. Assuming no previous background in the field, this accessible textbook provides step-by-step guidance for designing, conducting, and sharing original ELF research.

Structured in two parts, the text first provides a balanced understanding of ELF and highlights its role in promoting intercultural communication and challenging traditional language ideologies. The second part equips readers with the necessary tools to perform ELF research, covering the entire research process from identifying research topics to choosing appropriate methodologies. Reflective questions, activities, and practical tips in each chapter deepen engagement with the material and encourage critical exploration of ELF. The first textbook of its kind to combine foundational concepts, theoretical insights, and hands-on practices in a single volume, English as a Lingua Franca: Practice and Research:

• Provides a framework to explore real-world language use and contribute meaningfully to the field
• Covers corpus analysis, conversation analysis, and narrative inquiry
• Offers practical strategies for selecting topics, structuring research projects, and presenting findings as papers, presentations, or posters
• Discusses the role of ELF in language attitudes, policies, and multilingual communication
• Reflects upon cutting-edge ELF research and future directions for the field

English as a Lingua Franca: Practice and Research is an indispensable resource for students and researchers seeking to navigate this emerging field and engage with its growing community of scholars. It is ideal for advanced undergraduate and master's degree students, as well as linguists and TESOL professionals wanting to conduct research on global language practices.