Commentary on Louhiala-Salminen et al. (2005): Launching the notion of BELF

Inspired by English as a Lingua Franca approach in linguistics, Louhiala-Salminen et al. (2005) introduced the notion of BELF (then called Business Franca) their article on internal communication between Finns and Swedes two Nordic corporate mergers. It was game changer its to professional tool getting job done, while empowering internationally operating business practitioners emancipating them from role failed native speakers. Using mixed-methods with survey interviews intercultural well meeting email data enabled context-based findings communicative practices: primary, linguistic correctness secondary. The has functioned springboard for empirical studies within (socio)linguistics, business/professional even international management affected teaching learning practices various schools. In superdiverse environment, avenues further are promising, exemplified topics such digitalized virtual work contexts, developing structures, translanguaging multilingualism ever more important issues inclusion, diversity power. Methodologies ethnography enabling close interaction everyday practice needed understand where, why, how interactions take place.