Playing in the academic field: Non-native English-speaking academics in UK business schools

Śliwa, M. and Johansson, M. (2015) Playing in the academic field: Non-native English-speaking academics in UK business schools. Culture and Organization, 21(1), pp. 78-95. (doi: 10.1080/14759551.2013.828725)

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Abstract

This paper draws on Bourdieu's concepts of field, habitus and capital to explore the ways in which working in English as a non-native language influences foreign academics' performance of academic habitus and the level of their symbolic capital necessary for the achievement of success within UK higher education. Empirically, it is based on interviews with 54 non-native English-speaking academics employed in UK business schools. Our findings point to advantages and disadvantages associated with being a non-native English-speaking academic, to strategies deployed by individuals to enhance their linguistic capital, and to the importance of language not merely as a tool of communication but as a key factor enabling individuals to perform academic habitus in the UK academic field. We reflect on whether, and if so, how, the UK academic field is changing as a result of the increased presence within it of non-UK-born academics and, in particular, the fact of their professional functioning in English as a non-native language.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Johansson, Dr Marjana
Authors: Śliwa, M., and Johansson, M.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > Adam Smith Business School > Management
Journal Name:Culture and Organization
Publisher:Taylor & Francis
ISSN:1475-9551
ISSN (Online):1477-2760
Published Online:20 September 2013

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