Faculty of Foreign Studies

Fairbrother Lisa

  (FAIRBROTHER LISA)

Profile Information

Affiliation
Professor, Faculty of Foreign Studies, Department of English Studies, Sophia University
Degree
B.A.(Oxford University)
学士(文学)(オックスフォード大学)
Master of Arts(Chiba University)
Doctor of Philosophy(Chiba University)

Contact information
l-fairbrsophia.ac.jp
Researcher number
10365687
J-GLOBAL ID
200901055217116187
researchmap Member ID
5000064223

My main research interests are:

Language Management in Intercultural Contact Situations
Discourse Analysis
Sociolinguistics
Applied Linguistics
Second Language Education
English Language Education
Intercultural Interaction

(Subject of research)
The management of language and power in intercultural contact situations in Japan

Linguistic discrimination in the digital age
Factors governing the noting of deviations in contact situations
The acutal use of English in English as a Lingua Franca situations

Language management in multilingual workplaces
Conflict in contact situations
Interaction management during study abroad


Papers

 20
  • Lisa Fairbrother
    The Japanese Journal of Language in Society, 18(1) 162-175, Sep, 2015  Peer-reviewed
    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.
  • Lisa Fairbrother
    International Journal of the Sociology of Language, 2015(232) 59-78, Mar 1, 2015  Peer-reviewedInvited
    This article examines how participants in intercultural contact situations in Japan manage deviations relating to language and power in their daily life interactions. Based on the management summaries of eight plurilingual residents of Japan, this study investigates how deviations relating to language and power are noted and evaluated and what adjustment strategies are implemented in such cases. The results suggest that the management of language and power is complex and a number of interests may be in conflict. Deviations relating to power may be evaluated both positively and negatively and a lack of language proficiency can actually be used as a powerful tool. It is argued that speaker identity is a crucial issue that influences how interactional problems will be managed.
  • Lisa Fairbrother
    International Journal of the Sociology of Language, 2015(232) 177-180, Mar 1, 2015  Invited
  • Lisa Fairbrother
    SLOVO A SLOVESNOST, 76(4) 308-310, 2015  
  • Lisa Fairbrother, Hiroko Aikawa
    Language use and language attititude in contact situations. Language management in contact situations Vol.11, 11 117-129, Feb 28, 2014  
    Although the stage of evaluation is the central component of language management theory, determining whether a deviation will become a problem or not and hence whether an adjustment should be made or not, it has been given relatively little attention by researchers. This paper, therefore, presents an overview of the evaluation stage of language management based on the findings of past research, focusing on processual features, the type of deviations that are evaluated, the effect of the speaker’s perception of their interlocutor on the evaluation process, the norms that govern whether or how a deviation will be evaluated and individual differences between evaluators. Finally, it will be suggested that different people may evaluate the same type of deviation differently because of their different levels of contact situation proficiency.

Books and Other Publications

 30

Presentations

 29

Research Projects

 1

Social Activities

 1

Other

 9