BUSINESS COMMUNICATION: CODE-SWITCHING AND LINGUISTIC ASSIMILATION IN LOGISTICS & SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT (SCM) JARGON

Abstract

This paper examines the phenomenon of code-switching between Polish and
English in the context of logistics and supply chain management (SCM). It focuses on
the use of Business English as a Lingua Franca (BELF) in logistics, highlighting the
prevalence and patterns of code-switching to facilitate intercultural communication. The
study reveals that English, as the global business lingua franca, incorporates
etymologically foreign terms into Polish professional discourse through various
linguistic strategies like borrowing, loan blending, translation, adaptation, and
transposition. This integration reflects tactics of foreignization and domestication in
language translation. The extent of assimilation varies based on the communication
context. The paper emphasizes how the substitution of Polish terms with English
expressions aids in bridging linguistic gaps in cross-cultural interactions. It observes that
both Polish and English jargon in logistics use metaphorical expressions, neologisms,
abbreviations, and borrowings, with Polish professional terminology significantly
influenced by English. The paper concludes that globalization necessitates a common
language in business communication, leading to the adoption of English terms in
cross-cultural interactions. These terms, integrated to varying degrees, become valid
equivalents within Polish professional discourse. The paper suggests that standardized
code-switching in specialized languages typically involves terms not native to the local
culture, adapted to fit linguistic rules while maintaining flexibility. This leads to the
evolution of a distinct linguistic variety in logistics and SCM.