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‘As long as I know technology, I am fine’

The role of English in neoliberal conflicts in language management in the multilingual workplace

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 January 2025

Yixi Qiu Open the ORCID record for Yixi Qiu [Opens in a new window] ,
Yongyan Zheng Open the ORCID record for Yongyan Zheng [Opens in a new window]  and
Wen Sun
Yixi Qiu
Affiliation:
School of Foreign Studies, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
Yongyan Zheng*
Affiliation:
College of Foreign Languages and Literature, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Wen Sun
Affiliation:
College of Foreign Languages and Literature, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
*
Corresponding author: Yongyan Zheng; Email: yongyanzheng@fudan.edu.cn
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Abstract

Market-driven neoliberal ideology advocates for the adoption of English as the common business language by multinational companies; however, this often clashes with multilingual realities. This study explores how neoliberal ideologies have made English a catalyst for language-related conflicts within language management across various stages at a Shanghai-based subsidiary of a German multinational corporation. Data for this research was gathered via a seven-month ethnographic study and includes analysis of publicly accessible documents from the company's website, meeting transcripts, ethnographic notes, and semi-structured interviews with five local employees. Qualitative data analysis identified conflicts in the company's recruitment process, daily business communication, and language support services. Conflicting language management created communicative barriers and limited local employees’ engagement in the company's business affairs. Through a neoliberal lens, the findings highlight that when neoliberal English dominance encounters multilingual realities, the latter may undermine the efficiency and profitability central to neoliberal objectives. It is concluded that a reinterpreting of the neoliberal agenda is important for both policy makers and local employees to reconfigure neoliberal subjectivity, alongside measures to empower local employees’ linguistic and epistemic resources to facilitate their full participation in corporate affairs.

Keywords

Multinational companieslanguage managementconflictslocal employeesneoliberal ideology
Type
Shorter Article
Information
English Today , First View , pp. 1 - 11
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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