Children’s use of English as lingua franca in Swedish preschools

Abstract This paper highlights a current phenomenon reported from preschools placed in multilingual areas Sweden, namely that some preschoolers with mutually different language backgrounds sometimes use English as lingua franca instead of Swedish during play. The data stems study environments situated both monolingual and areas. analyses reveal many children are influenced by the areas, but to much greater extent An interesting situation arises when majority society, which is also education preschool, acquires less prevailing role children’s accomplishment everyday practices. Data show participating exposed speak varying extent. They learn teach each other English, an array pragmatic purposes; position themselves social hierarchies preschool group, create meaning within their shared peer culture for purpose exclusion intruders. used secret friendship.