ABSTRACT
The variable use of language has been described as central to ELF communication, for example by Seidlhofer (2011: 110f.), who writes that the use of ELF is characterised by “hybridity and dynamism, fluidity, and flexibility [. . .] heightened variability and a premium on mutual accommodation”. In essence, variable use in ELF communication means the use of language forms and functions that are not in accordance with standard language or conventionalised NS use of English. It is thus not surprising that such variable language use is challenging to capture. In this contribution, the experience gained from the part-of-speech tagging (POS tagging) of VOICE serves as an example of how to display variable aspects of language use. I argue that while it is a challenge to describe the degree and type of variability in ELF data with pre-defined, conventional linguistic categories, the attempt to ‘squeeze’ ELF into such categories also highlights where it varies from linguistic convention and as such challenges the validity of established linguistic concepts for variable, adaptable language use.
