The Use of English in Iceland. Convenience or a Cultural Threat? A Lingua Franca or Lingua Detrimental?

• Main Author: Thórarinsdóttir, Hallfrídur
• Other Authors: Isleifsson, Sumarlidi R., Chartier, Daniel
• Format: Book Part
• Language: English
• Published: Presses de l'Université du Québec 2011
• Subjects: English language; Iceland; Cultural Threat; Lingua Franca; Lingua Detrimental; Langue anglaise; Anglais; Islande; Menace culturelle; Islandais; Débats linguistiques; Nord; North; Linguistic debates; Icelandic; National Identity; Identité nationale; Nordic Countries; Scandinavie; Nationalisme; Nationalism; Danish; Danois; Internet
• Online Access: http://www.archipel.uqam.ca/10460/1/222023439.pdf

The Icelandic language has been the primary criterion for national identity and has played an important role in the image of Iceland within the Nordic countries. The article traces the role of how linguistic nationalism gained an indisputable position for the Icelandic language as the foundation of national identity in the country. During the period of independence struggle, Danish, the language of the colonizers, was considered to be enemy number one of the Icelandic language, but in recent times English has taken over that role. Equipped with the historical dimension of the role of Icelandic and Danish within the process of national identity-making in Iceland, the article aims to analyze the ongoing discourse on the alleged threat of English dominance in Icelandic society. Specific focus will be on the use of English as lingua franca in Icelandic businesses operating at an international level. In recent years the number of Icelandic corporations expanding their operation across the globe has multiplied. Recently some of these companies changed their official language of internal communication from Icelandic to English. This change stirred up great controversy, reflected in the media discourse and on blog sites on the Internet.