Effectiveness of English as a Lingua Franca on Basotho employees in two multicultural workplaces in Maseru Lesotho

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of English as a lingua franca (ELF) on Basotho employees in a multicultural workplace, using UNICEF and Epic Printers (Pty) Ltd as case studies. This study was conducted in Maseru, Lesotho. The study’s research objectives were to investigate the effectiveness of ELF in a multicultural workplace, to examine the factors which contribute to this effectiveness, and to identify barriers to effective communication that are caused or removed by ELF in a multicultural work setting. A mixed- method approach was found suitable for the study, and data were collected through questionnaires and interviews. Using convenience sampling, this study’s sample was 37 employees from UNICEF and EPIC Printers (Pty) Ltd. Generally, the study proved that, to a larger extent, English as a lingua franca is effective in a multicultural workplace. By adopting English in a multicultural workplace, as a common language of communication, ELF enables communication effectiveness in diverse professional contexts. Results revealed that ELF breaks communication barriers between Basotho employees and non-native speakers in a workplace that is characterised by diversity. The study also showed that education plays a vital role in communication. In fact, it is a factor which contributes to this effectiveness. Based on the findings, it was concluded that the participants with higher education qualifications have good language competence to communicate effectively in the English language. However, the minority of the research participants considered ELF ineffective mainly because some expatriates and some semi-skilled Basotho employees are not so fluent in English and cannot articulate well, which may cause communication breakdown