Research in English and Languages

We run the thriving seminar series:

• 'Cultures in Contact' Research Forum

A new seminar series will be launched from 2012-13:

• Surrey Research on Language, Culture and Interaction

We offer a range of postgraduate research programmes and our staff have expertise in a wide range of fields.

• Postgraduate Study
  Current Funded Research projects

ARCTIC: Assessing and Reviewing Cultural Transaction in International Companies

Doris Dippold
funded by: AHRC
Duration: February 2011-August 2011
Lead Partner: University of Surrey, UK
Project Partners: University of Wales (Newport), University of the West of England, University College London (UCU)

The project is going to investigate how internationally operating small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) see linguistic and intercultural barriers affecting their ability to trade abroad or with international clients. The team of researchers will work in collaboration with the Surrey and Bristol and South Wales Chambers of Commerce and a sample of SMEs in southern England and South Wales. The project will also explore how businesses and universities can collaborate to apply academic research into practice and meet the needs of SMEs in relation to intercultural trade.
Previous investigations on language skills and intercultural competence for businesses have shown that businesses loose trade because they lack language expertise or do not have the necessary intercultural competence and awareness. This has a marked impact on economic growth: it has been estimated that as much as 21 billion pounds annually are lost annually because UK SMEs are unable to engage fully in foreign markets, and that adopting a corporate policy emphasizing these skills could result in businesses achieving 44.5% higher export sales.
A survey and interviews with SME managers will be carried out to explore in detail the barriers to international trade UK SMEs feel they face in relation to language and intercultural communication skills, what existing corporate strategies they have in place to deal with them and what support they need to meet training needs. Moreover, we will also attempt to differentiate markets in which English poses a barrier to trade from those in which it does not.
The findings of this research will be used to identify areas in which SMEs need support and ways in which universities can collaborate with SMEs. The results of this survey will be fed back to the public and the business community through a dedicated website, a twitter feed and a networking event that will bring together SMEs, business intermediaries (e.g. Chambers of Commerce etc.) and researchers in business studies, language and intercultural studies. They will also feed into the development of the Export Communications Review (ECR) and the training programme for language consultants working with UK export SMEs

Transnationalising French Anarchism, 1870-1940

Constance Bantman
Funded by: British Academy
Duration: February 2010-March 2013

This project, based on archival research in Britain, France and the Netherlands, explores the transnational connections of three famous French anarchist militants, Jean Grave, Charles Malato and Louise Michel (c. 1870- c.1940). Through these examples, the unexplored international ramifications of French anarchism will be highlighted, evidencing strong links with Britain, Italy or the United States, routinely stretching as far as Australia or Japan. This investigation aims to provide a case study on the international dissemination of political ideas through informal personal networks and go-betweens. The recurring national focus of studies on the French movement will also thus be questioned. The tensions between the pacifist internationalist project of anarchism and the realities of xenophobia, anti-Semitism and pro-military convictions within the movement will also be brought to light through these three complex, often ambiguous militant itineraries.