Internationalization vs Englishization in Italian higher education: Reframing the issue

Murphy, Amanda C. and Zuaro, Beatrice (2021). Internationalization vs Englishization in Italian higher education: Reframing the issue. In: Wilkinson, Robert and Gabriëls, René eds. The Englishization of Higher Education in Europe. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, pp. 163–188.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/9789048553914-010

Abstract

This chapter investigates the concepts of internationalization/ internazionalizzazione and Englishization/anglicizzazione as used by academics publishing research about Italian higher education in English and Italian. We seek to understand whether internationalization is understood principally as Englishization, and to investigate the resonance of the terms in context. Methodologically, three corpora are analysed within a corpus-assisted discourse studies approach. The findings indicate that internationalization is presented in a neutral light, it is not construed exclusively as Englishization, which is used invariably as a negative term indicating an invasive process from which Italian academia needs to defend itself. The research suggests reconsidering the role of English as a way of making Italian academic culture more accessible to international audiences, rather than a threat to its identity.

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