Siegel2021
| Siegel2021 | |
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| BibType | INCOLLECTION |
| Key | Siegel2021 |
| Author(s) | Aki Siegel |
| Title | Development of shared multilingual resources in ELF dyadic interaction: A longitudinal case study |
| Editor(s) | Mauranen, Anna Vetchinnikova, Svetlana |
| Tag(s) | EMCA, Longitudinal CA, ELF |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| Year | 2021 |
| Language | English |
| City | Cambridge |
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| Pages | 311-335 |
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| Book title | Language change: The impact of English as a lingua franca |
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Abstract
This paper investigates longitudinal development of shared languages available in English as a lingua franca (ELF) interactions. Here, ELF refers to English spoken as a contact language between speakers from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds (Archibald, Cogo, & Jenkins, 2011). In ELF interactions, speakers are, in theory, multilingual and have “individual multilingual repertoires (IMRs)” (Pitzl, 2016). These IMRs may overlap between the speakers, which become a “multilingual resource pool (MRP)”. Recent ELF studies have demonstrated the multilingual nature of ELF and the creative use of other languages in interactions (e.g., Hülmbauer, 2009; Pitzl, 2016). However, it is unclear if speakers have the MRP from their first encounter, or how speakers begin to consider the possibility of another shared language besides English. The current study therefore explores how the MRP, or the acknowledgment of the MRP changes over time. The study takes place in a dormitory at an international university in Japan. The study focuses on two participants: Jacy from Thailand (L1 Thai, L2 English) and Yoko from Japan (L1 Japanese, L2 English) (both pseudonyms). Jacy started studying Japanese after entering the university, and Yoko started studying Thai after 6 months of entering the university. Therefore, English was the main language of communication between the two participants at early stages of their encounter. Four recordings were made between these two participants across 8 months, starting from soon after the two entered university and first met. A total of 143 minutes of video recordings were collected, transcribed and analysed using Conversation Analysis and framework of epistemic stance (Heritage, 2012) to understand the actions during the talk. The study focused on repair sequences where the speakers put the main conversation on halt to deal with troubles in speaking, hearing or understanding (Schegloff, Jefferson, & Sacks, 1977). Repairs were the focus due to its importance in progressing the conversation, and L2 speakers known to use various available resources to achieve a mutual understanding (Ishida, 2011; Kurhila, 2006). Detailed analyses of repair sequences demonstrated a gradual change in the pattern of participation during word search sequences initiated in Japanese. Yoko displayed increase in acknowledgment of Jacy as a knower of Japanese through delayed initiation of repairs, as well as Jacy displaying increase in participation in these word searches. In addition, the analysis identified change in Yoko’s display of epistemic stance towards the Thai language; from displaying explicit non-knowing of Thai and aborting to initiate repair, to using Thai in order to initiate and invite Jacy to other-repair. In other words, through multiple encounters, Jacy and Yoko displayed increasing mutual acknowledgment of Japanese and Thai as a MRP between the two.
The current study analysing longitudinal naturally occurring ELF interactions confirms the existence of IMR and MRP, and demonstrates the process of the expansion of the MRP. Findings suggest that speakers in ELF interactions are constantly monitoring each other’s linguistic resources and ability, and interactional resources are created and cultured in a sequential process that occurs through multiple encounters, adaptation, and accommodation in order to achieve mutual understanding.
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