Red Herrings and the Case of Language in UK Higher Education

Abstract

Focusing on English in higher education, I argue that while other ‘real-world’ issues such as power differentials and racism undoubtedly have a role in some settings, in higher education the prioritising of native English is, in itself, a cause of injustice and inequality for non-native English users. I go on to discuss how an English as a lingua franca orientation can help to remedy this problem.