Sociolinguistic – English as a lingua franca

‘English … currently serves as the most widespread means of international and intercultural communication that the world has ever seen. But this does not mean it is uncontroversial’ (Seidlhofer. 2011, p. ix). Discuss the nature of English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) and its role in communication and explain the controversies which Seidlhofer refers to in the quotation above.