Abstract:

The presentation aims to explore the impact of language ideologies on career advancement experiences of highly skilled migrants (HSM). A key challenge to employment for migrants is the lack of local language competence, which often hampers their ability to secure positions that are in line with their qualifications and experience. A common belief exists that once migrants achieve a sufficient level of local language proficiency, they will have the same opportunities to compete than locals. However, what does ‘sufficient’ local language proficiency mean to recruiters and migrants?

Drawing on the sociolinguistic concept of language ideologies, defined as shared beliefs about languages among specific social groups, this study aims to investigate how these ideologies shape career advancement experiences of HSM.

The study specifically seeks to answer the following questions:

• What language ideologies are present in the discourse of skilled migrants and local recruiters?

• Are these language ideologies adopted or contested by skilled migrants?

• To what extent do the majority population's language ideologies influence career advancement opportunities for skilled migrants?

The data is composed of semi-structured interviews with HSM in Norway, complemented by insights from recruiter interviews and job announcement analyses.

The study highlights the crucial role local language plays for workforce integration of HSM. Further, it provides a deeper understanding of how language is a complex phenomenon that influences power dynamics, social relations and professional outcomes. 

Bio:

Annelise Ly, PhD, is an Associate Professor in intercultural communication and an Excellent Teacher Practitioner at the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH). Her research interests include: cultural and communication differences in the workplace, leadership across cultures, diversity and inclusion, international teamwork and business communication.

She is a member of the Association for Business Communication (ABC) and a member of the ABC Publications Board.

She also currently serves as Director of Programmes for ENGAGE.EU, the European University alliance.