Abstract
The global spread of English as a lingua franca (ELF) can be viewed as providing an unprecedented opportunity for intercultural exchange. However, there have been concerns that the dominance of English may result in linguistic and cultural ‘imperialism’ by the Anglophone settings from which the language originates. Yet the empirical evidence demonstrates a de-centering of English and a shift in ownership of the language away from its Anglophone origins toward the majority of additional or second language (L2) users. Studies of ELF reveal adaptable and fluid uses of English enabling it to function as a powerful medium for intercultural interaction. This has major implications for language education and educational exchanges, which have yet to be taken up in practice.
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Baker, W. (2017). English as a Global Lingua Franca: Lingua Frankensteinia or Intercultural Opportunity?. In: Mathews-Aydinli, J. (eds) International Education Exchanges and Intercultural Understanding. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43829-0_4
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