Abstract
In the past two decades, many scholars have adopted various methods and perspectives to examine the language practices of multilingual communities at different levels. However, little research has been conducted on the language practice of foreign-funded companies in China. To fill this gap, this paper explores the characteristics of multilingual communities of European- and American-funded companies in China, with a focus on the automobile manufacturing industry characterized by similar systems of management and organizational discourse. Five automobile manufacturing companies were chosen as the research sites of this study. Through analysis of translanguaging in their display boards for management and interviews with their employees about translanguaging in the display boards, this study finds four types of translanguaging. Through employee training and daily management, English and its acronyms have become parts of the enterprise culture. In addition, specialized language, corporate-speech, various semiotic resources, together with Chinese and English, constitute the repertoires of translanguaging, while employees at different levels, such as operators, supervisors, and managers, use different language resources in interviews, showing different characteristics of monolinguals, novice multilinguals, and skilled multilinguals. Based on the observations and interviews, this study suggests that multinational companies should adopt different language policies according to the shared language resources of their employees.
Key words
European and American foreign-funded companies in China /
Display boards for management /
Translanguaging /
Linguistic repertoires /
Multilingual communities
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Yin Zhiping.
The Characteristics of Multilingual Communities in European-American-funded Companies in China from the Perspective of Translanguaging in the Display Boards for Management#br#[J]. Chinese Journal of Language Policy and Planning. 2025, 10(5): 55-67 https://doi.org/10.19689/j.cnki.cn10-1361/h.20250505
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