English as the Digital World’s Lingua Franca: Insights from Switzerland

Abstract

With the acceleration of digital globalization, English has consolidated its role as the primary lingua franca of online communication. While this enables cross-cultural interaction, it also raises questions about linguistic identity, cultural representation, and communicative equity, particularly for non-native speakers of English. This study examines the relationship between participants’ perceptions during online interactions and the frequency with which they engage in English use in digital environments. Grounded in Linguistic Globalization Theory, Language Ecology, Postcolonial and Decolonial Language Theories and Identity Construction in Digital Spaces, this research draws on data from a larger study (Surenthiran, 2025), which investigated the perception of participants in different countries. The present study reanalyzes these data with a focus on participants in Switzerland, using a quantitative methodological approach. Robust Linear Regression (RLR) was applied to address residual non-normality and outliers, while Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified latent affective constructs and improved model interpretability. Age was included as a categorical moderator across four groups. Results suggest that younger participants (18–24) reported higher authenticity, and frequent English use appeared to foster confidence in low-exposure contexts. These findings highlight the multifaceted identity outcomes of digital English use and call for more inclusive global linguistic environments.