ABSTRACT
English and multilingualism have tended to be two rather separate fields of research, and this chapter is an attempt to reflect on the multilingual nature of English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) and show how research on ELF translanguaging practices helps bring these two areas together. The chapter starts with developments in multilingualism in terms of the multilingual turn and the concept of translanguaging, before moving on to explore the multilingual research conducted in ELF contexts. The discussion spans from the sociolinguistic aspects of ELF codeswitching to the latest analysis concerning more fluid multilingual practices, such as translanguaging. The distinction between resources that are covert (i.e. cognitive semiotic resources available in the speakers’ repertoires) and overt (i.e. more explicit codeswitching or translanguaging alternations) is made to explore the extent to which ELF communication is multilingual despite the seemingly English only data. The study makes use of conversations collected in a transnational workplace, which are analysed not only in terms of the role of multilingual resources for negotiating and enhancing understanding, but also for the participants’ use and awareness of ideologies of language separation. Finally, the chapter demonstrates how multilingual resources and practices are a common aspect of ELF communication.
