Book Title

Aviation English as a Global Lingua Franca

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Year of Publication

2026

ISBN

9781009660785

Introduction

This monograph examines aviation English as a global lingua franca through the lens of communities of practice. Pilots and air traffic controllers involved in international operations belong to multiple communities, including local professional, broader local aviation, and international aviation communities. Their ongoing learning within these communities and the repertoire they develop––which influences their interactions––are explored. Against this framework, the inadequacy of the current internationally applicable language proficiency requirements is critically evaluated, alongside an analysis of four notable aircraft accidents that motivated these standards. The focus then shifts to analysing live radiotelephony discourse in abnormal situations, incorporating insights from domain specialists. Findings show that language-related aspects alone are insufficient; when combined with limited domain knowledge, it can lead to unsafe and ineffective communication. The study highlights accommodation––both for linguistic and domain-specific––as a crucial skill in this intercultural communication context and recommends greater standardisation for handling abnormal situations.                                                                                                                                                                

Content

1. Introduction
2. Aviation English as a Global Lingua Franca within Communities of Practice
3. International Civil Aviation Organisation and English Proficiency Requirements
4. Discourse Analysis and Domain Specialists’ Evaluations
5. Discussion and Recommendations
   References

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