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Practical Applications

An important part of the Project is finding ways to make Language in the Workplace material and findings useful to 'users' , i.e. workplace practitioners.  One of the goals of applied sociolinguistic research is that it has direct application in places where language is a vital tool of communication.  The Project Team is exploring a number of avenues by which the information and analysis we have compiled can be made accessible to language users in the workplace:

• The workplace data has been presented in a wide range of public seminars and presentations, as well as in media interviews and TV appearances.
  
  
• A number of newspaper and magazine articles, accessible to a general audience, have been produced.
  
  
• Detailed collaboration with HR managers has led to the production of a communication evaluation model for workplace communication skills development. This has been trialled with a high profile commercial organisation.
  
  
• Seminars and workshops have been presented at all participating workplaces, as well as to a wide range of other end-users such as the National Library, the Ministry of Education, the Wellington Employment Tribunal and Wakefield Hospital.
  
  
• We have produced and trialled modules and related text and audiovisual resources for practical workshop-based training in workplace communication. These materials have been collated into a practical resource kit consisting of a video and handbook for use by workplace communication training and human resources practitioners. This kit, which focuses on the factory environment, is the first in a planned series.
  
  
• We have compiled a series of brochures on each of the areas of research we have focused on so far, aimed at users in workplaces.
  
  
• We offer a limited consultancy and transcription service to selected businesses.

If you are interested to see how any of these initiatives could be useful in your workplace , would like any of our resources on workplace communication, or want information on upcoming seminars or workshops, please contact us.