English as a Lingua Franca in Wider Networking. Blogging practices

One of the effects of globalization has been the proliferation of encounters in virtual spaces, which have become as real and meaningful as face-to-face ones. In a constantly interconnected world, networks are continuously (re-) created to a variety of purposes, where English most often represents the lingua franca of communication. In web-based settings, where networks operate beyond territorial (and linguistic) boundaries, globalizing and localizing forces are simultaneously at work. Investigating ELF in such transnational and translocal networks can shed light on how it operates in settings which are complementary to face-to-face ones. The volume explores how ELF is functionally employed in internationally-oriented personal blogs. After taking internet practices and characteristics of internet users into examination, with reference to English and other languages, the ELF theoretical framework is applied and contextualised to blog-related computer-mediated practices. The empirical investigation shows that blog participants effectively deploy an array of communicative resources to their self-expressive and interactive practices. The implications of findings are also discussed, particularly in relation to ELT practices