English as a lingua franca? Cultural semiotics in English classes with Erasmus students

One of the main topics of this symposium is the reflective activity that is currently taking place around the nature, definition, and ontological position of not yet well defined ‘academic and scientific languages’ and their role in the process of globalisation. My contribution is basically meant to add yet another voice to this very variegated debate and, if possible, challenge the way English is defined as a ‘lingua franca’ modelling the way various fields of knowledge and research are nowadays developing in a globalised academic perspective.