Fairbrother Lisa

Despite the large number of foreign companies operating in Japan, which employ speakers of many different languages, very little research has been conducted on the actual language practices in multilingual workplaces in Japan. Based on semi-structured and interaction interviews with plurilingual employees of European-owned multinationals, this study will show how interactional practices in such workplaces are 'multiform', including a variety of hybrid, pidginized and deliberately adjusted forms. Furthermore, these multiform practices are not limited to merely linguistic elements but also apply to sociolinguistic and sociocultural practices. However, in contrast with earlier studies that stress that multiform practices are undertaken for the purpose of aiding smooth communication, an analysis of the practices in this study, highlights the influence of the hierarchical power structure of the workplace. Multiform practices are not simply a choice but they may also be imposed on employees lower down in the hierarchy, affecting both the use of their own L1 and other lingua francas.