Technicising Thought: English and the Internationalisation of the University

Abstract

We present an argument in ten steps. Thus, we provide: (1) a characterisation of salient features of thinking in the university today; (2) reasons for seeing this as a lack of thinking; (3) an argument for connecting thinking to language; (4) reflection on the plurality of language and its interconnections with belonging and thinking; (5) a contextualising of these matters in relation to internationalisation; (6) a worked example where issues of belonging and propriety come to the fore; (7) an exploration of the wider ramifications of this in terms of English for academic purposes; (8) an acknowledgement of problems relating to the English language itself; (9) a reflection on this in relation to education and social advancement; and (10) some suggestions for improving thinking in the university today