This edited volume makes a valuable contribution to the burgeoning
research field of English as a lingua franca. In a pioneering step, the
collection is exclusively devoted to the English email discourse of
Chinese speakers. The studies address innovative topics related to
various contexts and relationships, using several different approaches
and theories, which taken together shed light on how English serves as a
lingua franca in multiple types of global written communication. The
research topics presented are organized into four thematic sections,
including emails from students to professors, emails from students to
the international academic community, emails from peer to peer, and
emails at the workplace.
This collection of empirical research invites readers to consider the
special features of apologies, requests, terms of address, politeness,
and discourse organization, and how cultural differences may affect the
use or interpretation of each. Throughout the book, readers will also
discover how Chinese speakers use special features and strategies to
construct their identity, establish relationships, and achieve
successful communication in English. This highly informative,
thought-provoking book also provides insights on methods for teaching
email discourse using English as a lingua franca and suggests directions
for future research.
