ELF in international supervision: a nexus analysis approach

Barbara Soukup,; Kathrin Kordon,

doi:10.1515/jelf-2012-0021

Article

ELF in international supervision: a nexus analysis approach

Barbara Soukup,
Barbara Soukup currently researches and teaches at the University of Vienna, having obtained a PhD in linguistics from Georgetown University in Washington, DC. Her research focuses on the interface of ethnography of communication, interactional discourse analysis, sociolinguistic variation study, and the social psychology of language (language attitudes). Her book entitled Dialect Use as Interaction Strategy appeared in 2009 (Braumüller, Vienna).
and Kathrin Kordon,
Kathrin Kordon is a linguist and freelance consultant (supervision, coaching, organizational development) at the beraterInnengruppe naschmarkt. She works as an external lecturer in professional consulting, social skills, leadership development, and linguistics at various universities and other organizations for adult education. Her major research interests are issues dealing with the interrelatedness between intercultural communication, ELF use, and professional counseling.

Published/Copyright: October 16, 2012

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From the journal Journal of English as a Lingua Franca Volume 1 Issue 2

Abstract

In the literature on professional international consulting, the use of a foreign language (such as English) is typically cast as problematic and as an obstacle to successful intervention. In this article, we present evidence to the contrary, showing that conducting a specific form of professional consulting called ‘supervision’ in English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) can be beneficial rather than detrimental to the outcome. We analyze data of one international supervision event using the ethnographic framework of ‘nexus analysis’ (Scollon and Scollon 2004). Nexus analysis operates by investigating how macro-level societal discourses (e.g. professional discourses of supervision) and cultural tools (e.g. the use of ELF) interplay in and mediate local moments of interaction. In our case, using ELF in international supervision can slow down the process, which in turn is actually an important intervention strategy in supervision because it facilitates reflection work and is thus conducive to positive outcomes. We argue that nexus analysis is well poised to investigate the effects of such interplay of ELF use and societal (professional) discourses on the ground. Further, conducting studies that show the benefits of ELF use in supervision can ultimately engender more positive attitudes among professionals in this regard.

Keywords: professional consulting; international supervision; nexus analysis; English as a Lingua Franca; language attitudes

About the authors

PhD Barbara Soukup,

Barbara Soukup currently researches and teaches at the University of Vienna, having obtained a PhD in linguistics from Georgetown University in Washington, DC. Her research focuses on the interface of ethnography of communication, interactional discourse analysis, sociolinguistic variation study, and the social psychology of language (language attitudes). Her book entitled Dialect Use as Interaction Strategy appeared in 2009 (Braumüller, Vienna).

Linguist and Freelance Consultant Kathrin Kordon,

Kathrin Kordon is a linguist and freelance consultant (supervision, coaching, organizational development) at the beraterInnengruppe naschmarkt. She works as an external lecturer in professional consulting, social skills, leadership development, and linguistics at various universities and other organizations for adult education. Her major research interests are issues dealing with the interrelatedness between intercultural communication, ELF use, and professional counseling.

Published Online: 2012-10-16

Published in Print: 2012-09-13

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/jelf-2012-0021

Keywords for this article

professional consulting; international supervision; nexus analysis; English as a Lingua Franca; language attitudes