Towards a Richer Understanding of Language and Identity in the MNC: Constructing Cosmopolitan Identities Through “English”

Abstract Bringing in insights from sociolinguistics, this conceptual paper advances the theorizing on language and identity MNC, viewed as socially constructed by individuals interaction when they cross fluid linguistic geographical boundaries. We posit that identities of global business professionals MNC are not intrinsically tied to nationality native language, rather cosmopolitan interactions English working (BELF: a Business Lingua Franca). further conceptualize multilingual social constellation – providing context for processes construction but also shaped them. outline three propositions capture ways which BELF contributes dimensions (individual, interactional contextual) professional settings. The first one concerns identification participants drawing their different resources, national origins professions, previous experiences. focus second is manifest an orientation both sharedness difference skills, knowledge relations. third proposition terms enabling being (re)constructed with elaborate methodological implications sociolinguistic approaches IM research general, how our could guide future particular.