English as a Lingua Franca

English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) refers to the use of English as a common means of communication among speakers who do not share a first language. While related concepts such as World Englishes (WE) and English as an International Language (EIL) have also sought to move beyond native-speaker norms, ELF is distinct in its more explicit focus on intercultural communication among non-native speakers. In particular, ELF research critically examines the extent to which WE and EIL perspectives remain influenced by native-speaker-centered assumptions.

ELF shifts attention away from the question of how closely learners approximate native-speaker norms and toward how English is actually used in real-world international communication. A substantial body of research has investigated characteristic features of ELF across multiple linguistic domains, including phonology, grammar, lexis, and pragmatics. These studies aim to describe patterns of variation and adaptation that emerge when English functions as a shared communicative resource rather than a target native language.

Importantly, ELF research raises a fundamentally different set of questions for English education. Whereas traditional approaches have primarily focused on what to teach and how to teach it, ELF invites educators and researchers to consider why English is taught in particular ways. This shift encourages critical reflection on the goals of English education in a globalized world and challenges long-standing assumptions about norms, standards, and ownership of the language.