DOI: 10.5176/2251-2853_2.1.89
Authors: Aliya Aimoldina, Sholpan Zharkynbekova, Damira Akynova
Abstract:
Nowadays in Kazakhstan multilingualism becomes the trend with the English language gaining growing popularity alongside the two existing languages (i.e. the Kazakh as the only official language and Russian widely used as a language of interethnic communication). While English is regarded as a condition for successful integration into the global economy and becomes one of the priorities of the state policy, there are some concerns towards the role of English in the development of linguistic balance in Kazakhstan. The purpose of this paper is to report the use of the English language in modern Kazakhstani business community based on survey findings conducted in national, international and foreign companies in Kazakhstan. The survey shows that English is currently mainly used at
workplace and for specific purposes such as emails, writing a business letter, business trip abroad, etc. In terms of motives of learning English, developing international outlook, career development and personal growth have been mentioned as the most common reasons of English proficiency among Kazakhstani business professionals.
Keywords: English as a business lingua franca; BELF; business discourse; workplace; business communication; language functioning.
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