ENGLISH IN INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION: A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK FOR LOCAL AUTHORITY DISCOURSE

Abstract

This article develops a comprehensive theoretical framework for analyzing the role of English in the institutional communication of local authorities. As globalization and digitalization reshape the landscape of public administration, local governments increasingly operate in multilingual environments where English serves as a pivotal lingua franca for international cooperation, citizen services, and digital governance. Despite the growing prevalence of English in local administration, existing theoretical models often fragment the analysis, isolating linguistic features from broader governance structures. This paper addresses this gap by synthesizing three distinct yet complementary theoretical perspectives: Institutional Discourse Theory, English for Specific Purposes (ESP), and Governance Communication.By integrating Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to examine power relations, ESP genre analysis to understand professional communicative needs, and New Public Management (NPM) theories to contextualize administrative reforms, we propose a multi-layered conceptual model. This model delineates the function of English across macro-level language policies, meso-level organizational practices, and micro-level textual strategies. The analysis reveals that English in local authorities is not merely a neutral tool for information transfer but a complex semiotic resource that constructs institutional identity, facilitates (or hinders) democratic participation, and negotiates the tension between local responsiveness and global standardization.

The proposed framework offers a robust analytical lens for researchers and practitioners to evaluate the effectiveness, inclusivity, and professional standards of English communication in the public sector. The study concludes with implications for language policy design, professional development for civil servants, and strategies to ensure linguistic accessibility in an increasingly digital and diverse civic sphere.