Translanguaging Practices in Local Employees’ Negotiation to create Linguistic Space in a Multilingual Workplace

Abstract

This study explores the language practices and beliefs of local employees at a Shanghai-based subsidiary of a German multinational company.We conducted a seven-month ethnographic study and collected data from the company's publicly accessible documents, meeting transcripts, semi-structured interviews with five employees, and ethnographic notes.Qualitative data analysis revealed that local employees frequently utilized translanguaging practices despite the company's implicit assumption that English would be used as the common corporate language.Four major translanguaging practices were identified: key terms in English, bilingual label quest, cross-language recapping, and cross-language alternation.In addition, local employees perceived language as both a resource and an obstacle, often engaging in translanguaging practices to establish their own linguistic and communicative spaces, indicating that translanguaging is a complex multilingual practice influenced by internal and external factors, subject to social milieu, personal language competence, and beliefs.Ultimately, this study extends the notion of translanguaging and probes its analytical benefits for understanding fluid and discursive activities in multilingual workplaces and the sustainability of linguistic ecology and knowledge dissemination.Key words: multilingual workplace, translanguaging practices, language beliefs, English as the common corporate language [ch] 多语工作环境中当地员工如何运用超语实践来协商创造语言空间 摘要：本研究探索了一家德国跨国公司 (上海子公司) 里当地员工的语言实践和语言信念。研究进行了7个月的民族志调 查，数据来源于该公司的对外文件、会议记录、5位员工的半结构化访谈和研究者的民族志笔记。质性数据分析结果显示 尽管该公司采用英语作为通用的公司语言，但在当地员工之间仍然普遍存在超语行为这一语言实践。研究鉴别了4类超语 行为: 关键术语英语表述、双语标签探索、跨语言概括和跨语言转换。此外，研究发现当地员工将语言同时视作资源和障 碍。秉承着这样的语言信念，当地员工经常通过超语实践来创造自己的语言和沟通空间。这表明了超语行为是一项受内外 因共同影响的、复杂的多语行为，并受到社会整体环境、个人语言能力和语言信念的影响

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