English as a lingua franca: A source of identity for young Europeans?
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Abstract
As a result of globalisation and the European integration process, identity concepts of young Europeans are becoming more and more diverse and possibly heterogeneous. The factors that influence the development of identity formation and impact on identity constructions are complex – but language seems to be of central importance. It is generally accepted that language and identity are closely connected and that identities are shaped to a large extent through discursive practice. These interactions no longer take place in the mother tongue alone; they are increasingly affected by the wide use of English as a lingua franca (ELF) in Europe or, Euro-English. This raises the question of whether European identity should be built upon linguistic diversity, as officially promoted by the European Union, or whether the use of ELF could help to fulfill this unifying function. Drawing on a questionnaire survey conducted at the University of Braunschweig with 1061 students, the article investigates the potential role of ELF in the formation of a common European identity.
©2014 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Introduction
- Introduction
- Articles
- The relevance of English language instruction in a changing linguistic environment in Iceland: The L2 self of young Icelanders
- Attitudes towards English in Norway: A corpus-based study of attitudinal expressions in newspaper discourse
- Questioning English standards: Learner attitudes and L2 choices in Norway
- Language ideology or language practice? An analysis of language policy documents at Swedish universities
- Taming Tyrannosaurus rex: English use in the research and publication practices of humanities scholars in Sweden
- English language use at the internationalised universities of Northern Europe: Is there a correlation between Englishisation and world rank?
- University language policies and language choice among Ph.D. graduates in Estonia: The (unbalanced) interplay between English and Estonian
- English as a lingua franca: A source of identity for young Europeans?
- Book Reviews
- Book review
- Book review
- Book review
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Introduction
- Introduction
- Articles
- The relevance of English language instruction in a changing linguistic environment in Iceland: The L2 self of young Icelanders
- Attitudes towards English in Norway: A corpus-based study of attitudinal expressions in newspaper discourse
- Questioning English standards: Learner attitudes and L2 choices in Norway
- Language ideology or language practice? An analysis of language policy documents at Swedish universities
- Taming Tyrannosaurus rex: English use in the research and publication practices of humanities scholars in Sweden
- English language use at the internationalised universities of Northern Europe: Is there a correlation between Englishisation and world rank?
- University language policies and language choice among Ph.D. graduates in Estonia: The (unbalanced) interplay between English and Estonian
- English as a lingua franca: A source of identity for young Europeans?
- Book Reviews
- Book review
- Book review
- Book review
