Identity Changes for Iraqi Employees in Multinational Corporations Using English as the Lingua Franca

Abstract

With the help of this study, I aim to understand how Iraqi employees whose first language is Arabic, deal with situations where they have to speak English in their workplace, and how their identity changes. Through this study, a better understanding of how people go through and experience such a drastic change in their daily lives. To conduct this study, I conducted interviews with 15 Iraqi employees to collect qualitative data. Based on the findings of the study, I incorporated the Communication Accommodation theory, with the help of which I aimed to understand how such theories can help such individuals in establishing a better situation for themselves. Communication Accommodation theory is usually applied in situations where individuals are made to speak a certain language, which they don’t usually speak, and thus, with the help of this theory, a better understanding of how individuals build a better environment for themselves in the process of their identity change, in instances where their local language is not being spoken, is built. It was seen that with proper policies, rules, and regulations, multinational corporations can build a friendlier environment for such individuals who are dealing with linguistic identity change and thus, are not used to speaking English. Through this, they can also ensure that the rights are being protected of such people.