PLURALITY OF ENGLISH

Language, Culture, and Society

(Eng Ed 112)

NORQUEZ MANGANSAKAN – MANGINDRA, EdD

Subject Professor / Compiler
World English vs. World Englishes

World English is the language used in business, trade and diplomacy and other
international activities.
- the concept of the English language as a global means of communication in
numerous dialects, and also the movement towards an international standard for
the language. It is also referred to as Global English, World English, Common
English, Continental English or General English. Sometimes "international
English" and the related terms above refer to a desired standardization, i.e.
Standard English; however, there is no consensus on the path to this goal.

World Englishes refers to the varieties of English from different regions of the world. It
is a term referring to the emerging Englishes which are products of influences by
the United Kingdom or United States.
- refers to the different varieties of English and English-based creoles developed in
different regions of the world.
- Any language variety of English including those developed by communities in
which English was not indigenous in modern history
- Forms of New Englishes not uniform in characteristics, but share criteria;
developed through education system developed in an area where English was not
spoken by majority of people has become nativised“ by own language features

Why English Has Become a World Language

a. Historical reasons: spread through trade and colonization, wars, and cultural
dissemination.
b. Educational reasons: English is much more developed than other languages.
c. Political reasons: Language of super power and language of political institution
d. Intellectual reasons: scientific, technological, and academic info available in
English
e. Economic reasons: working language
f. Practical reasons: international air traffic, emergency services
g. Entertainment reasons: language of popular music, cultures, broadcasting

The Nativisation Continuum of World Englishes (NCWEs)

1. Diffusion. English is spread as a result of colonization, globalization or by any

other means.
2. Induction. English is officially accepted as a language used for education, trade,
communication and so on.
3. Customization. L1 and other local languages start to reshape English slowly by
giving it a local touch. Indigenous words form and structure get incorporated into
English.
4. Native Recognition People start to use English unconsciously without associating
with its parent varieties.
Braj Kachru‘s Three Concentric Circle Model Of World Englishes

Kachru (1985) proposed this concentric circle to illustrate the spread of English all
over the world. Each circle in this model represents the kind of function and acquisition in
which English language is used.

Kachru‘s three circle model of world Englishes

1. The Inner Circle (ENL or English as Native Language)

- language of people born & raised in countries, where English is (historically)
the primary language of the great majority of the population.
- Countries: UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand
- the speakers of the inner circle are the ones responsible for
providing linguistic norms. That is to say “norm-providing”.

2. The Outer Circle (ESL or English as Second Language)

- spoken in countries where English is an important and usually official
language, but not the main language of the country such as Nigeria, India,
Malaysia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Singapore
- ESL countries developing own standards
- English gained importance in administration
- English serves official purpose within the country in law, education and
government
- the speakers of the outer circle are the ones responsible developing
the standards and linguistic norms put forth by the countries of the
inner circle. That is to say “norm-developing”. Hence, labeled as non-
standard, illegitimate, interlanguage, bad, deviant, half baked
 3. The Expanding Circle (EFL or English as Foreign Language)
- EFL occurs in countries where English is not actually used or spoken very
much in the normal course of daily life. For speakers of EFL, English serves
no purpose in own country. For example China, Egypt, Taiwan, Indonesia,
Korea, Israel, Japan and many countries in the Middle East.
- Historically learned for communication with ENL speakers
- Nowadays used for communication with other non-native speakers
- But no official status, therefore dependent on standards set by Inner Circle
- The estimate for the number of speakers belonging in this circle is often
hard to find due to the limited circumstances and purposes for using English
in this way. Nonetheless, the number can be seen to be written from 100
million to 1 billion.
- Kachru labelled the expanding circle as “norm-dependent”, meaning they
rely on standards set by those in the inner circle and developed by the outer
circle, hence norm performing.

According to Kachru (1992) the global spread of English can be explained in terms
of two diasporal transportations.
1. The first dispersal was within the Inner Circle where a monolingual English-
speaking population migrated on a relatively large scale to countries like North
America, Australia and New Zealand
2. The second diasporas of the Outer and Expanding circle was the result of the
colonization of Asia and Africa by the British.

Krachu’s Parameters of the Power of English

1. Demographical and numerical: unprecedented spread across cultures and

languages; on practically even continent
2. Functional: provides access to the most important scientific, technological and
cross-cultural domains of knowledge and interaction.
3. Attitudinal: symbolizes – certainly to a large group across cultures – one or more
of the following: neutrality, liberalism, status and progressivism.
4. Accessibility: provides international accessibility in the Outer Circle and
international mobility across regions.
5. Pluricentricity: this has resulted in the nativization and acculturation of the
language. These two are responsible for the assimilation of English across
cultures.
6. Material: a tool for mobility, economic gains, and social status.

Assignment:
1. If we welcome English varieties, will it mean lowering the standard of English?
Defend your answer.
References:

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/english_as_a_second_language/world_englishes/index.html

https://www.google.com/search?q=kachru%27s+model+of+world+englishes&tbm=isch&
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cCegQIABAA&oq=Kachru&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQARgBMgQIABBDMgQIABBDMgQIABB
DMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBAgAEEMyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBAgA
EEM6CAgAEIAEELEDUNgXWNghYIE5aABwAHgAgAGhAYgByAaSAQMwLjeYAQCgA
QGqAQtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZ8ABAQ&sclient=img&ei=v9KAYe7DBJDx0gTo7ZXgAw&rlz=1
C1CHBD_enPH904PH904#imgrc=iI4z-1UFT4eg9M

https://www.linguisticsonline.net/post/braj-kachru-s-model-of-world-englishes-the-three-
circles-of-english

Handke, J. (2013, June 25). YouTube. Retrieved November 7, 2016, from The Spread of
English: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrsQmIVYrdg

https://www.academia.edu/43563988/English_Language_Teaching_in_Japan_as_a_Lo
calized_Pedagogy_The%20_Implications_of_the_World_Englishes_Perspective

https://slideplayer.com/slide/3377858/