Pedagogical research focusing on English as a Lingua Franca (=ELF) has gained increased attention recently within the framework of intercultural communications. Despite strong attention to ELF within this frame, however,... [ view full abstract ]
Pedagogical research focusing on English as a Lingua Franca (=ELF) has gained increased attention recently within the framework of intercultural communications. Despite strong attention to ELF within this frame, however, few case studies have examined the real context of multi-disciplinary ELF speakers, which includes both near-native and less-proficient ELF speakers. In this paper, we would like to investigate the following: 1) the attitudes of less-proficient ELF speakers among other ELF speakers, and 2) the strategies used by less-proficient ELF speakers to enhance their “Willingness to Communicate (WTC)” (Yashima, 2009) with near-native ELF speakers, who theoretically belong to the Outer Circle (Kachru, 1992).
There is always some discrepancy between authenticity and appropriateness of English norms when people start communicating using ELF. We observed this through certain psychological changes seen in participants at the Japan University Model United Nations (JUEMUN, Kobe 2017); we also observed this in a focus group interview with eleven Japanese university students. Analyzing the interview data of less-proficient ELF speakers, we herein discuss the fact that there is a gap in communication strategies between less-proficient ELF speakers and near-native-like ELF speakers of English. The former aims at assimilating native-like norms to facilitate their communication, sometimes unsuccessfully, while the latter might not intentionally acquire skills of communicating with other ELF speakers.
In globalized communities, language awareness/respect towards multi-disciplinary ELF speakers is indispensable for mutual understanding. Hence, we ask how it is that we can promote language awareness/respect for English varieties of less-proficient ELF users. As Ikuta & Takahashi (2014) have suggested, less-proficient ELF speakers might need to be aware of their “listen-ability” and “intelligibility” of their production in order to enhance their willingness to communicate. When ELF is regarded as the primary contact language for building relationships among different language communities, people have to learn how to be tolerant and mindful of varieties, particularly, for those who are less-proficient speakers of ELF.
