• Overview
• Research Platforms
• Thematic Area A: Language, Identity and Culture
• Thematic Area B: Language Policy and Planning
• Thematic Area C: Multilingualism and Education
• Thematic Area D: Language and Economy
• European Level
• National Level
• European Level
• Communication, Management, Infrastructure, Training and Gender

Multilingualism amongst minority population: a case of trans-cultural capital or social exclusion?

(WP12, 2006–2008)

Summary Results

Why Multinational Companies Prefer English (But Not English Only)

Multinational companies in Central Europe are inevitably faced with multilingualism. LINEE researchers have looked into 9 such companies with branches in the Czech Republic or Hungary in order to find out what role certain languages play within the company, what language problems arise and how they are managed.

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Rationale

Identification of the language problems in multinational companies is of great importance for the proper functioning of European economies. Typically, large multinational companies/corporations operate in several countries and are characteristic of the exchange of products and people which takes place between their parent and daughter companies (subsidiaries). Importantly, several languages operational languages are involved. Among other things, language problems in multinational companies result from power relationships and the question is whether removing linguistic and communicative problems can be performed without intervening into the socio-economic structure. Such questions will be raised with respect to the relationship between the old and new EU Member States.

Objectives

This WP aims to investigate who uses which language with whom in which situations, and which sorts of linguistic, communicative and socio-cultural problems emerge during these processes within multinational companies.

Description of work

Interviews (semi-structured, interaction, follow-up), recording of naturally-occurring interactions in multinational companies, observation (captured in research journals) and recording, subsequent transcription and archiving of data, group and individual analysis of transcripts, journals, and statistical materials.

On the basis of the initially analyzed “first batch” of data, conducting of final “supplementary” interviews and field research trips, final entries into “data collection” phase of research journals, final gathering of statistical data on foreign direct investment and foreign language teaching in Hungary.

Completion, final editing and archiving of all transcriptions and research journals, making transcripts and research journals in English and German accessible to the whole group. At this point we should be able to answer the questions “Where are the most relevant points for comparison of multinational companies in the Czech Republic and Hungary?” and “What different types of language diversity structures have we observed in the companies?”

Completion of analysis, completion and submission of final research report, completion and submission of article to journal Current Issues in Language Planning, issue on “Language planning and international collaboration”. These should provide a comprehensive picture of language diversity in multinational companies in the Czech Republic and Hungary and clearly depict how this diversity is related to the knowledge economy.