Abstract
The present paper examines the language policies of three multinational
corporations (MNCs) headquartered in Denmark and Finland. The case companies
all use English as their common corporate language, however, these language
policies are implemented without formal language policy decisions and explicit
language policy statements. Based on interviews with 27 informants, company
visits, field notes and document data, we review the companies’ covert language
policies (Baldauf 2006; Schiffman 1996), which we refer to as non-formalised by
drawing on international management literature, where formalisation of rules and
procedures is seen as a type of corporate control that limits the room for individual
decision-making among employees (Nobel & Birkinshaw 1998). We also examine
the formation of the companies’ language policies, and issues of policy compliance
and noncompliance in a quest to uncover the immediate and long-term
consequences of non-formalised language policies in Scandinavian business.
On the basis of our empirical findings we discuss how non-formalised, covert
language policies are clearly distinct from formalised, overt language policies in
terms of language policy format, language policy focus, language policy formation,
language planning agency, and finally, management style. Given the many different
roles and functions of language within multilingual workplaces, we suggest that
multilingual organisations may find it more useful to develop diverse language
policies, i.e. combining non-formalised and formalised language polices, rather
than opting for one overarching language policy applicable to all forms of companyinternal
language use.
Original language | English |
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Publication date | 2016 |
Publication status | Published - 2016 |
Event | The 6th International Conference on Applied Linguistics and Professional Practice. ALAPP 2016: Transnational Flows and Professional Practice - University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark Duration: 3 Nov 2016 → 5 Nov 2016 Conference number: 6 http://alapp2016.ku.dk/ |
Conference
Conference | The 6th International Conference on Applied Linguistics and Professional Practice. ALAPP 2016 |
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Number | 6 |
Location | University of Copenhagen |
Country/Territory | Denmark |
City | Copenhagen |
Period | 03/11/2016 → 05/11/2016 |
Internet address |