This volume addresses two current gaps in pragmatics research in English as a lingua franca (ELF): Firstly, the contexts, approaches and theories of pragmatics generally that remain under-explored in studies of ELF speakers; secondly, the paucity of ELF pragmatics studies investigating Asia, despite its economic and geo-political importance and the role of English as a region-wide lingua franca. The volume draws together a range of pragmatics-related chapters contributed by leading experts in pragmatics, both in English as a lingua franca and more broadly. These either present new research that extends the current state of the field, or introduce approaches and theories from other areas of pragmatics that translate readily to analysis of ELF interaction. Five of the chapters are Asia-focused, examining pragmatic aspects of communication among Asian ELF users. The volume therefore offers scope for ELF pragmatics researchers to further broaden the field's theoretical and analytical horizons, and adds to the quantity of knowledge about pragmatics in ELF communication in Asia. Its publication raises the visibility of this research area within the broader field of pragmatics.

This volume draws together the viewpoints and research findings of leading scholars and informed local practitioner-researchers throughout Asia-Pacific about the issues and challenges of English as a medium of instruction (EMI) at higher education institutions in that region. Specifically, it addresses four key themes: Macro-level EMI policy and practice; institutional implications for pedagogy; stakeholder perceptions of EMI; and challenges of interpersonal interaction in EMI contexts. The book is among the first to critically examine the emerging global phenomenon of English as a medium of instruction, and the first title to exclusively explore Asia-Pacific tertiary contexts. It will be of particular interest to policy-makers in international education and tertiary educators seeking blueprints for practice, as well as scholars and postgraduate students of English as a lingua franca, English for academic purposes, academic language and learning, and language education in Asia-Pacific.

This book examines how Japanese learners of English learned about managing politeness while they were studying at language schools in New Zealand. Specifically, it investigates how they learned to produce and interpret a range of disagreement strategies during oppositional talk with native speakers of English. Employing a combined qualitative and quantitative approach to data analysis, the book discusses the initial pragmatic competence of the learners, and describes how their competence developed over a ten-week period. The book outlines some points of cultural divergence which may have influenced the direction and the extent of the learners' pragmatic development. It also sheds light on the language-acquisition strategies utilised by the learners during their tenure in the host culture. Most crucially, the book illuminates patterns of directness and indirectness in the learners' selected disagreement strategies. These patterns challenge the generally accepted theory that politeness always increases with social distance.

This volume draws together the viewpoints and research findings of leading scholars and informed local practitioner-researchers throughout Asia-Pacific about the issues and challenges of English as a medium of instruction (EMI) at higher education institutions in that region. Specifically, it addresses four key themes: Macro-level EMI policy and practice; institutional implications for pedagogy; stakeholder perceptions of EMI; and challenges of interpersonal interaction in EMI contexts. The book is among the first to critically examine the emerging global phenomenon of English as a medium of instruction, and the first title to exclusively explore Asia-Pacific tertiary contexts. It will be of particular interest to policy-makers in international education and tertiary educators seeking blueprints for practice, as well as scholars and postgraduate students of English as a lingua franca, English for academic purposes, academic language and learning, and language education in Asia-Pacific.