English as a Lingua Franca in Higher Education in Malaysia

Authors

  • Azirah Hashim Dept. of English Language, Faculty of Languages and Linguistics University of Malaya
  • Gerhard Leitner Institute of English Philology, Free University Berlin, Germany

Keywords:

ELF, multilingualism, higher education, ASEAN, Malaysia

Abstract

This paper examines the role of English in higher education in Malaysia within the context of Southeast Asia, ASEAN, and the global challenges the country faces. It surveys the uses, functions of and demand for English in Malaysia and the region. The practices and needs of higher education institutions are contextualized within the progression from secondary education upwards and the history of educational policies. This paper discusses English needs of higher education as set inside multilingual contexts where English functions as the default language. The nature of English in Malaysia and across Southeast Asia is highly diverse and variable and speakers may use stable and creative localized forms such as Malaysian, Singaporean and Philippine English. The tension between these national or regional varieties and the desired command of English are addressed. It is proposed that English as a lingua franca may be the best option for higher education institutions although one will still need to restrict it to semi-formal spoken contexts and adopt a form of international English for writing, especially academic writing.  Whatever target variety is thought to be the most adequate, English cannot be dissociated from culture and pragmatic norms. Teaching and learning therefore require an openness to and acceptance of diversity way beyond immediate comprehension.

 

Author Biographies

  • Azirah Hashim, Dept. of English Language, Faculty of Languages and Linguistics University of Malaya

    Azirah Hashim is Dean of the Humanities Research Cluster and a professor in the English Language Department, Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, University of Malaya. Her research interests include English in Malaysia and in the region, language and the law, and academic and professional discourse.

  • Gerhard Leitner, Institute of English Philology, Free University Berlin, Germany

    Gerhard Leitner is a professor of English Philology at the Free University of Berlin. He is the author and editor of more than 25 books on the English language and its variants and has held visiting professorships in Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and China. He is an honorary member of the Australian Academy of Humanities.

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Published

2014-03-28

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

English as a Lingua Franca in Higher Education in Malaysia. (2014). The Asian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 1(1), 16-27. https://caes.hku.hk/ajal/index.php/ajal/article/view/41