Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/2123/8071

Title: A critical examination of race in Business English coursebooks
Authors: Bedford, Sarah
Keywords: Business English
English language teaching
coursebooks
race
racism
critical race theory
critical discourse analysis
appraisal
Issue Date: 11-Nov-2011
Publisher: University of Sydney.
Education
Abstract: This thesis examines ways in which uses of images and words contribute towards constructions of race in published Business English language coursebooks, by exploring coursebook writers’ perspectives on compiling their Business English coursebooks and analysing Business English coursebook materials. The study drew on critical race theory, critical discourse analysis, and systemic functional linguistics to investigate relations between the ways coursebook writers construct race in selecting and organising materials for their Business English coursebooks and the ways race is constructed in Business English coursebooks. The data included seven published Business English coursebooks and interviews with writers of four of the coursebooks. The coursebooks were Global links 2 (Blackwell, 2001), Market leader intermediate (Cotton, Falvey, & Kent, 2005), Quick work pre-intermediate (Hollett, 2000), New international business English (Jones & Alexander, 2003), In company intermediate (Powell, 2002), First insights into business (Robbins, 2000), and International express pre-intermediate (Taylor, 2004). I argue that constructions of race in the coursebooks connect three notions: international business people, corporate ethics and responsibilities, and intercultural business communication. Patterns in the location and composition of the language learning materials, and expressions of opinions and emotions in illustrative extracts from the materials were found to contribute to these constructs.
Description: Master of Philosophy
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2123/8071
Appears in Collections:Sydney Digital Theses (Open Access)

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