Revisiting the “language part of work”: Taylorism and multilingualism in the AI-driven globalised economy

Abstract This commentary revisits and extends Boutet’s seminal perspectives on the “language part of work” by reflecting on its relevance in the AI-driven globalised economy, particularly under Taylorist and multilingual conditions. Drawing on Boutet’s research on French workplaces two decades ago, it incorporates insights from diverse labour markets and cultural contexts through two ethnographic case studies. The first case investigates contemporary Taylorism in a fifth-generation international call centre in Shanghai, revealing how traditional principles of standardisation coexist with new managerial techniques and cognitive demands that engage workers’ intellectual agency. The second case examines multilingualism in a Chinese transnational telecom with branches in Shanghai and London, analysing how globalisation and the dominance of English as a lingua franca reshape linguistic practices and the value of language in multilingual workplaces. By demonstrating the language choices and practices of skilled migrants, including non-Chinese professionals in Shanghai and Chinese expatriates in London, this commentary highlights the evolving dynamics of language within global economic integration. It concludes by advocating for a re-examination of language and work frameworks to more effectively address the complexities of contemporary labour practices in global workplaces.