ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the origins and development of research into English as a lingua franca (ELF). It discusses the multilingualism and the relevance of recent critical research into multilingualism for, and its synergies with, ELF research and how this has led to the recent reconceptualisation of ELF as English-within-multilingualism. The chapter considers how ELF conceived first and foremost as a multilingual phenomenon aligns with critical work on language education, how both have an important role to play within foreign language education in preparing language learners, regardless of their first language, for global multilingualism. English as a Multilingua Franca (EMF) refers to multilingual settings in which everyone present knows English, so English is always in the potential mix, regardless of whether and how much it is used. EMF reduces the size of English in ELF and focuses more on the multilingualism of most ELF users.
