Translanguaging in Indonesian Corporate Setting
Sociolinguistic Phenomenon, Affordances, and Constraints
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21154/eltall.v6i2.10946Keywords:
Translanguaging , Sociolinguistic Phenomenon, Affordances, ConstraintsAbstract
In Indonesia’s increasingly globalized and multilingual corporate landscape, translanguaging—the fluid use of multiple languages in communication—has emerged as a prevalent and strategic practice. This paper explores Indonesian-English translanguaging in corporate settings as a sociolinguistic phenomenon, as it socially situated, interaction-based, identity-linked, power-sensitive, context-dependent, and meaning-oriented. Using a library-based interpretivist approach, the research illustrates how employees employ translanguaging to clarify complex ideas, embed cultural relevance, and facilitate real-time collaboration. However, persistent constraints remain, such as language hierarchies, unequal English proficiency, and institutional resistance. The findings advocate for a reframing of translanguaging—not as linguistic deviation, but as a valuable communicative resource that bridges cultural divides, boosts workplace productivity, and supports professional advancement.
References
Barrett, M., & Kormos, J. (2022). The impact of English language skills on workplace inclusion and professional identity. International Journal of Applied Linguistics, 32(1), 88–105. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijal.12345
Canagarajah, S. (2013). Translingual practice: Global Englishes and cosmopolitan relations. Routledge.
Cenoz, J., & Gorter, D. (2022). Pedagogical translanguaging and its application to language classes. Language and Education, 36(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1177/00336882221082751
Fadilah, N. (2022). Language ideology and translanguaging practices in Indonesian professional settings. Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 12(1), 55–68. https://doi.org/10.17509/ijal.v12i1.40567
García, O., & Wei, L. (2014). Translanguaging: Language, bilingualism and education. Palgrave Macmillan.
Gunawan, A., & Tan, S. (2022). Bridging workplace communication gaps: Translanguaging in Indonesian corporations. Asian Englishes, 24(2), 113–129. https://doi.org/10.1080/13488678.2022.2009971
Haryanto, E., & Wijaya, S. (2021). Linguistic diversity and professional communication in urban business settings: A study on multilingual practices. Journal of Language and Communication, 12(3), 45–61.
Harzing, A-W., & Feely, A. J. (2008). The language barrier and its implications for HQ-subsidiary relationships. Cross-Cultural Management: An International Journal, 15(1), 49–61. https://doi.org/10.1108/13527600810848827
Heller, M., & Duchêne, A. (2012). Pride and profit: Changing discourses of language, capital and nation-state. In A. Duchêne & M. Heller (Eds.), Language in late capitalism: Pride and profit (pp. 1–21). Routledge.
Hodges, A., & Seawright, L. (2023). Transnational technical communication: English as a business lingua franca in engineering workplaces. Technical Communication Quarterly, 32(4), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1177/23294906231154860
Holden, N. J. (2002). Cross-cultural management: A knowledge management perspective. Pearson Education.
Jørgensen, J. N., Karrebæk, M. S., Madsen, L. M., & Møller, J. S. (2011). Polylanguaging in superdiversity. Diversities, 13(2), 23–38.
Li, W. (2011). Moment analysis and translanguaging space: Discursive construction of identities by multilingual Chinese youth in Britain. Journal of Pragmatics, 43(5), 1222–1235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2010.07.035
Li, W. (2020). Translanguaging and code-switching: What’s the difference? International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 23(7), 783–790. https://doi.org/10.1080/13670050.2020.1751398
Machi, L. A., & McEvoy, B. T. (2016). The literature review: Six steps to success (3rd ed.). Corwin Press.
Madsen, L. M., Karrebæk, M. S., & Møller, J. S. (2022). Translanguaging resistance in institutional spaces. Linguistics and Education, 69, 101010. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.linged.2022.101010
Neeley, T. B., & Kaplan, R. S. (2014). What’s your language strategy? Harvard Business Review, 92(9), 70–76. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2014/09/whats-your-language-strategy
Nurmi, N., & Koroma, J. (2020). The emotional benefits and performance costs of building a psychologically safe language climate in MNCs. Journal of World Business, 55(4), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwb.2020.101093
Orellana, M. F., & García, O. (2020). Translanguaging for transformation: The role of criticality in the growth of bilingual learners. Bilingual Research Journal, 43(1), 4–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/15235882.2020.1728171
Putri, A. M., & Adi, R. P. (2021). Translanguaging and language hybridity in Indonesian workplace discourse. Asian Englishes, 23(4), 320–336. https://doi.org/10.1080/13488678.2021.1947890
Rampton, B., & O’Rourke, B. (2021). Language practices in superdiverse workplaces: Translanguaging in action. Multilingua, 40(2), 123–141. https://doi.org/10.1515/multi-2020-0052
Schwandt, T. A. (1994). Constructivist, interpretivist approaches to human inquiry. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research (pp. 118–137). SAGE.
Setiawan, R. (2022). The dynamics of workplace translanguaging: Evidence from Jakarta’s startup industry. International Journal of Multilingualism. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/14790718.2022.2091357
Simatupang, R., & Zuraida, L. (2023). The role of translanguaging in hospitality industry communication. Journal of Workplace Linguistics, 5(1), 34–48.
Syahputra, I., & Santoso, B. (2020). Linguistic inclusion through translanguaging in Indonesian multinational companies. Language & Society Indonesia, 8(3), 233–249.
Tran, L. T., & Hoang, H. T. (2020). Language, participation, and voice: Exploring linguistic inequities in corporate communication. Journal of Workplace Communication, 12(2), 60–76.
Wang, Q., Clegg, J., Gajewska-De Mattos, H., & Buckley, P. (2020). The role of emotions in intercultural business communication: Language standardization in the context of international knowledge transfer. Journal of World Business, 55(6). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwb.2018.11.003
Wati, D. (2020). The influence of English proficiency on job performance in Indonesian companies. Human Resource Journal Indonesia, 10(1), 22–35.
Wei, L. (2018). Translanguaging as a practical theory of language. Applied Linguistics, 39(1), 9–30. https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/amx039
Weinzierl, M.-L. (2024). Bridging the boundaries of corporate language competence in multinational teams. International Journal of Business Communication.
Welch, D. E., Welch, L. S., & Piekkari, R. (2005). Speaking in tongues: The importance of language in international management processes. International Studies of Management and Organization, 35(1), 10–27. https://doi.org/10.1080/00208825.2005.11043723
Welch, D. E., & Welch, L. S. (2020). ‘Forward’. In S. Horn, P. Lecomte, & S. Tietze (Eds.), Managing multilingual workplaces: Methodological, empirical and pedagogic perspectives. Routledge.
Yamao, S., & Sekiguchi, T. (2015). Employee commitment to corporate globalization: The role of English language proficiency and human resource practices. Journal of World Business, 50(1), 168–179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwb.2014.03.001
Yulianti, N., & Widhiatama, A. (2024). Workplace learning through translanguaging: A case study in a Jakarta tech company. Journal of Professional Learning and Development, 6(1), 75–89.
Zhu, J., & Zhang, J. (2023). Implications of translanguaging for the cultivation of intercultural communication competence in foreign language education. Lecture Notes on Language and Literature, 6, 25–33. https://doi.org/10.23977/langl.2023.060405
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 ELTALL: English Language Teaching, Applied Linguistic and Literature
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All articles published in ELTALL (English Language Teaching, Applied Linguistics, and Literature Journal) are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).
Under this license, authors and readers are free to:
- Share. copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- Adapt. remix, transform, and build upon the material
Under the following terms:
- Attribution. You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- Non-Commercial. You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
Notices:
- The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
- No additional restrictions. You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
For the full legal code of the license, please visit: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
