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Josiane Boutet
In this article, Josiane Boutet proposes a historical overview of language practices in work situations by using the example of France: starting with Taylorized factories, she moves on to more modern forms of work organisation and concludes with the new productive sectors. In her analysis, she distinguishes between four broad movements that characterise the evolution of language practices in work situations. First, she documents the persistent devaluation and low social prestige of so-called immigrant languages. Secondly, she tracks how spoken varieties of French, which in Taylorism were not recognized or even forbidden, have acquired a new status as important factor in a company’s productivity. Thirdly, she shows how the service dialogue between employee and customer is a language practice that has been considerably expanded. Finally, she demonstrates how practices of literacy (reading and writing) continue to proliferate in all professions.
