Almut Köster

Almut Köster is a Full Professor of English Business Communication at the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU). Born in Heidelberg, Germany, she grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, and has established herself as a leading scholar in workplace discourse analysis. Prior to joining WU in September 2014, she served as Senior Lecturer in English Language at the University of Birmingham in England.

Her academic credentials include:

• B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from Wesleyan University (Connecticut, USA) in 1980
• M.A. in Applied English Linguistics from the University of Birmingham (UK) in 1989
• Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics from the University of Nottingham (UK) in 2001
• Diploma in Teaching English as a Foreign Language to Adults (awarded in 1983)

Professor Köster's research focuses on spoken workplace discourse, examining how linguistic features such as idioms, metaphor, and vague language function in business communication contexts. Her work investigates decision-making processes, negotiating strategies, conflictual interactions, and small talk in professional settings. Methodologically, she combines discourse analysis, conversation analysis, genre analysis, and corpus linguistics to provide comprehensive insights into workplace communication patterns.

Analysis of her publication record reveals consistent scholarly contributions spanning two decades, with a clear trajectory from foundational work on workplace discourse to increasingly nuanced examinations of specific linguistic phenomena in professional contexts. Her research demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections between linguistics, business studies, and communication theory, with particular emphasis on practical applications for business communication training.

She actively supervises PhD and doctoral students investigating various aspects of workplace and business discourse, contributing to the development of new scholars in the field. Her professional experience extends beyond academia, with extensive practical experience as an English language teacher, teacher trainer, and director of studies across Germany, France, and the USA, providing her with valuable real-world insights into language teaching and business communication.