The Cultural and Intercultural Dimensions of English as a Lingua Franca

This edited volume is exemplary in threading together two hitherto parallel intellectual traditions – Intercultural Communication Studies and English as a Lingua Franca – innovatively and critically through a constellation of theoretical and analytical synergies. The empirical case studies across diverse settings will no doubt pave the way for future research-cum-pedagogy in the above two traditions and their intersection.

* Srikant Sarangi, Aalborg University, Denmark *

This timely book fills a gap in thinking about interculturality by recognising that lingua francas are not cultural vacuums but that in all contexts of language use language and culture are fundamentally connected. The wide-ranging contributions in this collection open up new ways of thinking about lingua francas and cultures and is a must for anyone working in the field of intercultural understanding.

* Anthony J. Liddicoat, University of South Australia, Australia *

This is a rich and multifaceted volume that tackles the difficult question of the relation between interculturality and English as a Lingua Franca. By bringing two fields together, ELF and intercultural communication, that up to now have shown little interest in one another, the contributors to this volume are able to ask provocative questions, present innovative views and make bold suggestions that will benefit research in both ELF and intercultural communication.

* Claire Kramsch, University of California, Berkeley, USA *

This book will be of value to a range of diverse researchers, in a range of diverse contexts (...) The theoretical cul-de-sac discussed by Homes and Dervin, and also by O’Regan, are challenged and navigated by the kinds of research approaches exemplified by this book. 

-- Robert M. Higgins, University of Nottingham, UK * LINGUIST List 28.45