English as a lingua franca and globalization: an interconnected perspective

It is increasingly acknowledged in applied linguistics that non-native speakers of English outnumber native speakers. This article reflects on the continued momentum of the debate regarding English as a lingua franca (ELF) with a view to situating the discussion within a broader framework than has been the case hitherto. The article considers the current situation in light of theoretical positions on globalization, aligning the key voices in ELF with current views on the sociopolitical world order as embodied by various means of conceptualizing globalization. The discussion proposes that adopting a transformationalist perspective – within which the current epoch is best defined as a period of significant social, political and cultural transformations – is of most relevance to a consideration of the arguments and findings of ELF research.