Intelligibility as nativeness in migrant work and employment
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18192/olbij.v15i1.7734Keywords:
English, intelligibility, migrants, nativeness, professional communicationAbstract
This conceptual essay explores how intelligibility acts as a euphemism for nativeness in English within the context of migrant work and employment. When intelligibility is treated as an individual trait, practice, or responsibility of migrant workers, these workers are expected to emulate a specific type of speaker, which often means emulating a “native English speaker” from the Global North. This individualization of intelligibility is facilitated by several workplace processes including the construction of a singular professional voice, the skilling of oral communication, and the need to linguistically cater to customers. The essay concludes with reflections on how notions of intelligibility must be unlearned and relearned to create ethical professional communication.
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