CUTTING A SWATHE: ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND AUTHORITY IN THE RURAL SRI LANKAN WORKPLACE

Social recognition associated with proficient use of English, especially in post-colonial settings where English is a second language, is a powerful benefactor of social and career advancement whilst the lack therein is a harbinger of marginalisation in these areas. In such contexts, assumptions based on English language proficiency in workplaces become indicators of intelligence and work performance, and have potential to undermine or enhance professional relationships and managerial authority. To date, the impact of these assumptions on professional relationships and managerial authority is rather undocumented. In this paper, interview data collected from participants in a rural Sri Lanka town were used to explore the interplay between these assumptions, workplace relations and managerial authority. Findings suggest that assumptions based on English language proficiency play a larger role in determining professional status and respect in the workplace than more accepted measures of knowledge, experience or professional or vocational education. The potential implications of this finding for social mobility and human capital development in Sri Lanka are discussed.