Linguistic Challenges in Global Software Development: Lessons Learned in an International SW Development Division

Abstract

In multinational companies, English is used more and more as a "lingua franca" for international collaboration. This is for example true for a unit like Siemens’ Program and System Engineering Division SIS PSE, with headquarters in Austria and subsidiary units in many European countries and China. This article will initially present the concept of ELF (English as a lingua franca), which is steadily gaining importance in applied linguistics research. The main part of this article will outline the practical challenges of using English as a non-native language in international collaboration, including examples of oral and written communication (such as meetings, meeting minutes, training, and requirements specifications). It will be argued that these linguistic challenges are closely connected with intercultural ones. Dealing professionally with these topics is a key asset for project success, especially in project management and requirements engineering.