Engelskans smidighet och svenskans friktion

Språk, kapital och arbete i den »gröna» industrin

Abstract

This study investigates the role of language in the capital-driven “green transition”, focusing on Northvolt’s battery factory in Skellefteå. By integrating critical sociolinguistics with Marxist value theory, the analysis explores how language ideologies and practices interact with capitalist-organized work processes. The study reveals that English, as the working language, facilitates the recruitment of a global workforce but simultaneously hinders the integration of migrant workers into the local community. This dynamic is analyzed through a Marxist lens, showing how language practices are shaped by and contribute to broader economic structures. The results demonstrate that the function of language in the “green” industry is closely linked to capitalism’s need for a flexible and disciplined workforce, shaping language practices and ideologies in significant ways. The findings are based on extensive ethnographic research, including field notes, interviews, and media representations, providing a comprehensive understanding of the sociolinguistic landscape unfolding in the wake of the Northvolt factory. The article contributes to the critical sociolinguistic literature by combining language ideology with Marxist critique of political economy, offering new insights into the role of language in modern industrial settings.