Spread and stratification of English

English has spread significantly across the world and becomes a global language. Based on

popular believes, there are two diasporas of the spread of English, through the settlement of

English-speaking population, and through the transplanting into non-English sociocultural

environment (Bhatt, 2001, p.529).

In the first diaspora, it is the movement of English native speakers that brings the language

into inner-circle countries such as the expansion of Wales (1535) (Bhatt, 2001, p.529). Therefore,

English becomes the first language of these countries, being one of the main languages, such as

French and Arabic (Bhatt, 2001, p.529).

Furthermore, English as a global language emerges in the second diaspora, being introduced

as an additional language among other national languages (Bhatt, 2001, p.529). Thus, the contact

between English and diverse languages leads to the development of localised varieties, such as

Malaysian English (Bhatt, 2001, p.529). In this diaspora, the localised varieties become a mode use in

education as a norm, promoting distinctive identities (Bhatt, 2001, p.529).

In additions, there are two interpretations of English’s stratification: polylectal continuum

and the cline of English bilingualism (Bhatt, 2001, p.530). Polylectal continuum involves with a scale

of varieties varying from the acrolect, as known as standard varieties, to the basilect, the opposite

ones (Bhatt, 2001, p.531). For instances, educated people in the Caribbean would use the acrolect,

while Caribbean people who have limited education would use the basilect (Bhatt, 2001, p.531).

On the other hand, the cline of English bilingualism refers to its speakers and communication

purposes (Bhatt, 2001, p.531). One cline describes the educated varieties, and other varieties are on

another end, such as Butler English (Bhatt, 2001, p.531).

 Moreover, the rapid spread of English to expanding-circle countries produces several

controversies with two main views: linguistic imperialism and linguistic pragmatic (Bhatt, 2001, p.

532). In terms of linguistic imperialism, it is the English teaching agency, such as the British Council,

that imposes standard English ideology onto these countries, as if English is the language of power

(Bhatt, 2001, p.532).

Furthermore, linguistic pragmatic indicates that English as a business lingua franca has

evolved with the work market through commerce revolution and practices, especially after World

War II along with the foundation of other well-known organisations, such as United Nations (Bhatt,

2001, p.533). The colonies’ education system also contributes significantly in spreading English as a

symbolic capital, as in the case of South Asia (Bhatt, 2001, p.533).

References

Bhatt, R. M. (2001). World Englishes. Annual review of anthropology, 30(1), 527-550