Achieving successful lingua franca interaction in a context of linguistic disparity

In a world where English is now commonly used as a lingua franca by both first and second language users, the linguistic resources available to speakers are inevitably uneven, raising questions about the efficiency, and indeed success, of communication in such circumstances. This paper examines the impact of varied proficiency on communication among a group of lingua franca English users who include both L2 and L1 speakers. It analyses original discourse data gathered over a period of time during which participants engaged in a common activity using English as the shared tool of communication. It focuses particularly on the successful accomplishment of communication, rather than on failed or mis-communication, and identifies the strategies employed to achieve it. The paper shows that disparate linguistic skills need not impede communication provided that participants are equipped with adequate strategic competence. It further considers what attributes of this particular group of lingua franca users might have contributed to the development of this communicative competence and what implications this might have for the educational needs of lingua franca users in general.