English as a Lingua Franca: Co-Constructing Understanding

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.