The teaching style of the business educator: A corpus-based investigation of the relationship between language and identity

The business studies degree represents an interdisciplinary field that brings together different epistemological traditions and educational aims. This eclectic nature is similarly reflected in the unique blend of the disciplinary and professional interests of business educators. As can be verified from their websites, these academics may assume different identities that include lecturer, textbook writer, researcher, economist, policy advisor and business consultant. However, does their teaching style also reflect this multiplicity of identities? Using corpus-based techniques, this study analyzes the transcripts of twelve authentic business studies lectures, focusing on selected features of language that are linked to different dimensions of identity: academic, disciplinary, professional, cultural and individual. The findings showed that the language of the business lecturers does indeed reveal different aspects of their identity, which appear to converge into a teaching style that not only enhances the effectiveness of the instruction, but also provides learners with a role model of the multi-faceted expertise that characterizes the members of this community of practice.