Résumés
Abstract
The study of the multilingual character of multinational companies has grown into a legitimate field of research in international business. This paper provides a conceptualization of one of the central notions in this field: language diversity. We do this by relating the notion of language diversity to the concept of diversity in three dimensions: variety, separation or disparity. Our theoretical contribution is illustrated and further elaborated through a case study of multilingual team collaboration in the software industry. This paper explores the theory-building potential of stronger connections between diversity scholarship and the language research stream in international business.
Keywords:
- Diversity,
- Language,
- Language diversity,
- Language management,
- Multilingualism,
- Multinational Corporation
Résumé
L’étude de la nature multilingue des entreprises internationales est devenue un champ de recherche reconnu au sein du management international. Cet article propose une conceptualisation d’une notion centrale dans ce champ: la diversité linguistique. Celle-ci y est analysée sous les trois dimensions du concept de diversité: la variété, la séparation et la disparité. Cette contribution théorique de l’article est illustrée et développée plus en profondeur à travers l’étude de cas d’une équipe de travail multilingue dans l’industrie du développement de logiciels. Cette recherche explore les liens entre les recherches sur la diversité et sur le langage afin d’en consolider les fondements théoriques en management international.
Mots-clés :
- Diversité,
- Langues,
- Diversité linguistique,
- Management linguistique,
- Multilinguisme,
- Entreprise multinationale
Resumen
El estudio del carácter multilingüe de las empresas internacionales se ha convertido en un reconocido tema de investigación en el management internacional. Este artículo propone una conceptualización de una noción central en este ámbito: la diversidad lingüística. Este concepto es analizado bajo las tres dimensiones del concepto de diversidad: la variedad, la separación y la disparidad. Esta contribución teórica del artículo está más profundamente ilustrada y desarrollada a través del estudio del caso concreto de un equipo de trabajo multilingüe en la industria de desarrollo de programas informáticos. Esta investigación explora las relaciones entre las investigaciones sobre la diversidad y sobre el lenguaje a fin de consolidar los fundamentos teóricos del management internacional.
Palabras clave:
- Diversidad,
- lenguas,
- Diversidad lingüística,
- Management lingüístico,
- Multilingüismo,
- Empresa multinacional
Parties annexes
Bibliography
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