University of Oulu

Räisänen T. & Kankaanranta A. (2023). Ethnographic study of a manager’s engagements with written ‘English’ workplace genres in MNCs. In P. Lecomte, M. Vigier, C. Gaibrois and B. Beeler (eds.), Understanding the Dynamics of Language and Multilingualism in Professional Contexts (pp. 67-83). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

Ethnographic study of a manager’s engagements with written ‘English’ workplace genres in MNCs

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Author: Räisänen, Tiina; Kankaanranta, Anne
Format: article
Version: accepted version
Access: open
Online Access: PDF Full Text (PDF, 0.3 MB)
Persistent link: http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi-fe2023022128024
Language: English
Published: Edward Elgar, 2023
Publish Date: 2023-02-21
Description:

Abstract

This chapter investigates written workplace genres manifested in English as corporate language (ECL). It adopts an ethnographic approach and focuses on a business manager’s engagement with written genres when working in a multinational company (MNC). The data, collected at various points over the professional’s management career, include both authentic data such as audio- and video-recordings of work practices and email communication as well as interviews and ethnographic fieldnotes. We investigate, applying genre analysis, what different written genres emerge when the manager handles his daily jobs on the grass-roots level of the multilingual organisational context. With authentic examples we showcase how professionals engage with genres in dynamic ways and how English as corporate language manifests across a continuum between frontstage and backstage. Moreover, we illustrate how organisational practices are manifested in actual genre use and thus advocate for a holistic approach to language-sensitive management research. Our study has implications for both research and practice.

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ISBN: 978-1-78990-678-3
ISBN Print: 978-1-78990-677-6
Pages: 83 - 99
DOI: 10.4337/9781789906783.00014
OADOI: https://oadoi.org/10.4337/9781789906783.00014
Host publication: Understanding the Dynamics of Language and Multilingualism in Professional Contexts
Host publication editor: Lecomte, Philippe
Vigier, Mary
Gaibrois, Claudine
Beeler, Betty
Type of Publication: A3 Book chapter
Field of Science: 512 Business and management
6121 Languages
Subjects:
Copyright information: © Edward Elgar. This is a draft chapter/article. The final version is available in Understanding the Dynamics of Language and Multilingualism in Professional Contexts edited by Philippe Lecomte, Mary Vigier, Claudine Gaibrois, and Betty Beeler published in 2023, Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781789906783.00014