Deconstructing native-speakerism in Scottish academia : an intercultural relationship approach

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Robinson, Liam and John, Tomasz (2026) Deconstructing native-speakerism in Scottish academia : an intercultural relationship approach. Journal of Global Higher Education, 2 (1). ISSN 3069-0951 (https://doi.org/10.25774/journalofglobalhighereduc...)

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Abstract

Native speakerism is a pervasive language ideology that shapes sociolinguistic hierarchies in multilingual academic settings. Although extensively examined within English language teaching (ELT) research, its broader impact on communication and sociocultural identity among multilingual international students (MIS) in higher education remains underexplored. This study expands this discussion beyond ELT contexts, framing native speakerism as a socially embedded and process-oriented phenomenon perpetuated through institutional discourses in English-dominant universities. Drawing on sociolinguistic perspectives, this study investigated how native speakerism influenced students’ identities and communicative practices at a Scottish university. The study employed a qualitative document analysis of university texts alongside semi-structured interviews with seven students (six international and one domestic). These datasets were examined using critical discourse analysis and thematic analysis to explore how institutional policies and peer interactions either perpetuate or challenge native speakerist ideologies. Findings revealed that intercultural communication between domestic English-dominant students (DES) and MIS facilitates the dismantling of sociolinguistic hierarchies. We propose a framework for leveraging institutional support structures through intercultural initiatives, policy adaptations, and staff training to challenge native speakerism and enhance multilingual inclusivity and intercultural exchange. This study contributes to discussions on multilingualism and intercultural communication by providing strategies for universities to foster equitable academic spaces.

ORCID iDs

Robinson, Liam and John, Tomasz ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3696-080X;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)