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Perceptions of Language (Mis)fit at a Multilingual Workplace: The Case of the University of Vaasa

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Language Perceptions and Practices in Multilingual Universities

Abstract

Based on a case study we identify sources and contexts of linguistic challenges that academic and university services staff perceive at a multilingual workplace. Some of these challenges produce subjective perceptions of language misfit—a concept that refers to a sense of inadequacy in the social context through which professionals communicate specialized knowledge. Professionals who experience misfit have limited language skills or their skills are inconsistent with the language policies and practices of the university and/or the region where the university is embedded. Our findings suggest that language misfit and fit form a dualistic pair of concepts which is dynamic and context-specific. We offer a contribution to person-environment (mis)fit research and the study of multilingual organizations, which has to date focused on private, for-profit organizations.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Dean Smale was one of our informants who gave his permission to publish his story without anonymization.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Management, University of Vaasa, Vaasa, Finland

    Maria Järlström

  2. School of Business, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland

    Rebecca Piekkari

  3. Language Centre, University of Vaasa, Vaasa, Finland

    Nina Pilke

  4. HR and Executive Services, University of Vaasa, Vaasa, Finland

    Hanna Turpeinen

Authors
  1. Maria Järlström
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  2. Rebecca Piekkari
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  3. Nina Pilke
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  4. Hanna Turpeinen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nina Pilke .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of English, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden

    Maria Kuteeva

  2. Department of English, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden

    Kathrin Kaufhold

  3. Department of Languages, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    Niina Hynninen

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Järlström, M., Piekkari, R., Pilke, N., Turpeinen, H. (2020). Perceptions of Language (Mis)fit at a Multilingual Workplace: The Case of the University of Vaasa. In: Kuteeva, M., Kaufhold, K., Hynninen, N. (eds) Language Perceptions and Practices in Multilingual Universities. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38755-6_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38755-6_12

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-38754-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-38755-6

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