Validating the Core Elements of a Linguapreneurship Model: Insights from a Fuzzy Delphi Analysis

Authors

  • Wan Ab Aziz Wan Daud

    Faculty of Language Studies and Human Development, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Kota Bharu 16100, Malaysia
  • Asma Salsabila Tai' tullah

    Faculty of Language Studies and Human Development, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Kota Bharu 16100, Malaysia
  • Mohammad Taufiq Abdul Ghani

    Faculty of Languages and Communication, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Tanjong Malim 35900, Malaysia
  • Shah Iskandar Fahmie Ramlee

    Faculty of Entrepreneurship and Business, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Kota Bharu 16100, Malaysia
  • Mohd Akashah Mohamad Yusof

    Academy of Language Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam 40450, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i9.10747
Received: 26 June 2025 | Revised: 3 July 2025 | Accepted: 9 July 2025 | Published Online: 18 September 2025

Abstract

The emerging intersection of language education and entrepreneurship conceptualized as linguapreneurship demands a strong framework to guide curriculum development and policy formulation in alignment with digital transformation and economic innovation. Addressing this critical gap, the present study employs the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) to validate the core components of a proposed Linguapreneurship Model. A diverse expert panel comprising 12 professionals from academia, digital content industries, and educational technology was engaged to evaluate 30 proposed model elements using a linguistic importance scale. Through the application of triangular fuzzy number calculations and defuzzification techniques, expert judgments were synthesized to determine levels of consensus. The analysis revealed that 25 elements met or exceeded the established consensus threshold (defuzzified value ≥ 0.5), indicating strong expert agreement on their significance and relevance. These validated elements span key thematic domains such as artificial intelligence integration, digital language learning platforms, industry-academic partnerships, and innovative linguapreneurial pedagogies. The findings offer an empirically grounded and consensus-based model that advances the theoretical and practical understanding of linguapreneurship. Furthermore, the validated framework provides a strategic foundation for the design and implementation of forward-thinking language education programs that are aligned with the competencies required in the digital economy and the broader context of Industry 4.0. By embedding entrepreneurial and technological dimensions into language curricula, this study contributes to the transformation of language education and enhancing its socio-economic impact.

Keywords:

Linguapreneurship; Fuzzy Delphi Method; Language Education Innovation; Digital Economy; Industry 4.0

References

[1] Seele, P., Jones, M.T., 2020. Linguapreneurship and the language industries: A review. International Journal of Language and Business. 7(1), 1–20.

[2] Amiruddin, N.H., Tan, A.Y.K., Ling, S.T., 2025. Reimagining language education through linguapreneurial pathways in the digital era. Journal of Language and Innovation Studies. 12(1), 45–59.

[3] Kang, H.S., 2020. Language, technology, and entrepreneurship: Emerging opportunities. Journal of Language and Business. 12(2), 88–105.

[4] Godwin-Jones, R., 2018. Using mobile technology to develop language skills and cultural understanding. Language Learning & Technology. 22(3), 1–17.

[5] Ting, Y.L., Lau, K., Tan, K.H., 2020. Embedding entrepreneurship in language programs: A curriculum innovation framework. Asian Journal of University Education. 16(4), 123–135. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24191/ajue.v16i4.11943

[6] Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia, 2021. Graduate employability report 2020/2021. MOHE.

[7] Ghani, M.T.A., Daud, W.A.A.W., 2023. The Impact of Digital Game-Based Learning Towards Arabic Language Communication. Jurnal Komunikasi: Malaysian Journal of Communication. 39(1), 407–424. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17576/JKMJC-2023-3901-23

[8] Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (MOHE), 2015. Malaysia Education Blueprint 2015–2025 (Higher Education). Available from: https://www.mohe.gov.my/ (cited 16 February 2025).

[9] Lin, C., Hsu, C., 2007. A fuzzy Delphi method for evaluating hydrogen production technologies. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 32(10–11), 915–921. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2006.07.026

[10] Daud, W.A.A.A., Ghani, M.T.A., Amiruddin, A.Z., et al., 2021. The Usability Of I-Suyyah: A Mobile Tourism Application for Arab Tourists In Malaysia. Enlightening Tourism. A Pathmaking Journal. 11(1), 263–286.

[11] Ishikawa, A., Amagasa, M., Shiga, T., et al., 1993. The max–min Delphi method and fuzzy Delphi method via fuzzy integration. Fuzzy Sets and Systems. 55(3), 241–253. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-0114(93)90251-C

[12] Norasmah, O., Sern, L.C., 2021. Delphi and Fuzzy Delphi Methods in educational research: A methodological review. Malaysian Journal of Learning and Instruction. 18(1), 141–170.

[13] Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), 2018. National Policy on Industry 4.0: Industry4WRD. Available from: https://www.miti.gov.my/ (cited 16 February 2025).

[14] Ghani, M.T.A., Hamzah, M., Daud, W.A.A.W., et al., 2022. The Impact Of Mobile Digital Game In Learning Arabic Language At Tertiary Level. Contemporary Educational Technology. 14(1), ep344. DOI: https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/11480

[15] Ghani, M.T.A., Daud, W.A.A.W., Ramli, S., et al., 2024. The Usability of Arabic Language Classroom Management Mobile Application through Fuzzy Delphi Analysis. In: Hamdan, R.K., Buallay, A. (eds.). Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Customer Social Responsibility (CSR). Studies in Systems, Decision and Control. Springer: Cham, Switzerland.

[16] Warschauer, M., Grimes, D., 2021. AI and the future of language learning. Educational Technology Research and Development. 69(1), 345–360. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-020-09834-2

[17] NSW Bo., 2025. OECD digital education outlook 2023: Towards an effective education ecosystem. Hungarian Educational Research Journal. Available from: https://akjournals.com/view/journals/063/063-overview.xml (cited 17 January 2025).

[18] Lecloux, A., 2020. Project-based learning in language education: Bridging the gap between academia and the workplace. Journal of Experiential Learning. 43(4), 22–33. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1053825920925101

[19] Rahman, N.A., Lo, S.H., 2023. Linguapreneurship in Southeast Asia: Trends and challenges. Asian Journal of Language Studies. 11(1), 25–42.

[20] Siliutina, I., Tytar, O., Barbash, M., et al., 2024. Cultural preservation and digital heritage: Challenges and opportunities. Amazonia Investiga. Available from: https://amazoniainvestiga.info (cited 15 January 2025).

[21] Nussbaum, M.C., 2010. Not for profit: Why democracy needs the humanities. Princeton University Press: Princeton, NJ, USA.

[22] Neupane, S.M., Bhattarai, P.C., 2024. Constructing the scale to measure entrepreneurial traits by using the modified Delphi method. Heliyon. 10, e23456. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e23456

[23] Lin, R.H., Hsu, C.C., 2007. Fuzzy Delphi method: Application to tourism project evaluation. Expert Systems with Applications. 32(4), 1185–1196. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2006.02.003

[24] Cheng, C.H., Lin, Y., 2002. Evaluating the best main battle tank using fuzzy decision theory with linguistic criteria evaluation. European Journal of Operational Research. 142(1), 174–186. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0377-2217(01)00267-6

[25] Daud, W.A.A.W., Ghani, M.T.A., Abdul Rahman, A., et al., 2025. Exploring the challenges and strategies of learning Arabic language among primary school teachers. Forum for Linguistic Studies. 7(2), 94–103. DOI: https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i2.8002

[26] Rahman, T., Fitria, N., Nurhidayah, E., et al., 2023. Effects of project-based learning on employability skills. Review of Islamic Economics and Education. Available from: https://ojs.pps-ibrahimy.ac.id (cited 17 March 2025).

[27] Ting, S.H., Marzuki, E., Chuah, K.M., et al., 2020. Graduate employability of Malaysian language students. GEMA Online® Journal of Language Studies. 20(3), 90–110. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17576/gema-2020-2003-06

[28] Bourdieu, P., 1991. Language and symbolic power. Harvard University Press: Cambridge, MA, USA.

[29] Seele, C., Jones, C., 2020. Language as capital in the entrepreneurial classroom. Journal of Language and Intercultural Communication. 20(4), 367–384.

[30] Burgess, J., Green, J., 2018. YouTube: Online video and participatory culture, 2nd ed. Polity Press: Cambridge, UK.

[31] Daud, M.A.K.M., Hashim, H., Hassan, A., 2021. Application of the Fuzzy Delphi Method in higher education curriculum development: A review. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research. 20(4), 120–137.

[32] Daud, W.A.A.W., Ghani, M.T.A., 2024. Crafting the linguapreneur model: A new paradigm for language entrepreneurship in Malaysian universities. Proceedings of the International Conference on Languages and Communication (ICLC) 2024, Kampung Gong Badak, Malaysia, 24–25 August 2024; pp. 195–201.

[33] Jackson, D., 2016. Re-conceptualising graduate employability: The importance of pre-professional identity. Studies in Higher Education. 41(8), 1237–1258. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2014.981513

[34] Kang, Y., 2020. The rise of the freelance translator in the platform economy. Translation Studies. 13(1), 39–58. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14781700.2019.1608814

Downloads

How to Cite

Wan Daud, W. A. A., Tai’ tullah, A. S., Abdul Ghani, M. T., Fahmie Ramlee, S. I., & Mohamad Yusof, M. A. (2025). Validating the Core Elements of a Linguapreneurship Model: Insights from a Fuzzy Delphi Analysis. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 7(9), 1090–1103. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i9.10747

Issue

Vol. 7 , Iss. 9 (September 2025)

Article Type

Article

License

Copyright © 2025 Wan Ab Aziz Wan Daud, Asma Salsabila Tai' tullah, Mohammad Taufiq Abdul Ghani, Shah Iskandar Fahmie Ramlee, Mohd Akashah Mohamad Yusof

Creative Commons License

This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.