global English theories Flashcards
(16 cards)
world Englishes definition
different varieties of English that has existed for some time
ELF (English as a lingua franca)
a bridge language between other languages
global Englishes definition
blurring of world and ELF Englishes, representing the extensive scope of English in modern times
international English
a phrase to describe all the types of Englishes
David Crystal estimations
- L1 (first language as English): 400 million
-L2 (second language as English): over 400 million
ELF: 600-700 million
total: 1.5 billion (2003)
total: 2 billion (2008)
total: 2.3 billion (2018)
McArthur’s circle of englishes
world standard English :
British Irish standard. America standard. Caribbean standard. African standard. South Asian standard. East Asian standard
British and American English is at the same level as all the other Englishes
Nicholas Ostler
The current state of English is unprecedented. Simultaneously, it has a preeminent global role in science, commerce , politics, finance, tourism, sport and even screen entertainment and popular music. With no challenger comparable to it seems almost untouchable.
Argues that British English will decline in power
Argues that technology will allow people to communicate and write in whatever they choose and the world will understand
Mario Saraceni
describes it as a “relocation” of English and that English does not belong to the “inner circle”
Diaspora and migration
First diaspora: English spread from British isles to Canada, USA, Australia and NZ.
Second diaspora: smaller groups of english people travel to countries such as: south africa; south asia. english was a pidgin and eventually became the lingua franca, and then an L2 (second language)
When does a pidgin become a creole
When somebody learns the pidgin as their first language it becomes a creole
Acrolect / basilect/ mesolect
Jamaican creole exists in a range of forms along along a continuum from standard Jamaican English (the acrolect) to the basilect, the most basic form, with the mesolect in the middle.
Braj Kachru
Inner circle; outer circle; expanding circle
Modiano’s (1999) centripetal circles
Outside: learners
Inside the “outside”: native and foreign language proficiency
Inside that one: proficient in international English
Schneider (2007)
Post colonial varieties of English have evolved: it’s not just geography but time that is an important factor. In each stage, he considers how a new variety develops, English speakers look “outside” for the norms and standard for their English variety.
Study by kim and elder into misunderstanding between Korean pilots with American colleagues
Aviation English is an agreed lingua Franca so that pilots and control towers over the world can communicate. The US uses too many idioms and the Korean became confused
Jennifer Jenkins
Suggests that the focus for English teaching should be on those features that affect the intelligibility of English of speakers.
Argues that UK standard english shouldn’y be a priority for people learning it as ELF
