The Characteristics of English as an

International LanguageGlobal English - World Englishes - English as a

Lingua Franca

By Rachadaporn Khumpun 550132013

Global EnglishJames Allan

A vehicular language in Globalisation

Dominant English - spread of American English through worldwide via media and communication system

Cultural Homogenization - American pop culture

Register or Formality

English for specific purpose => business, academic, technical English

World EnglishesJames Allan

Localized English: adaptation or appropriation of language

Functioned as nationality markers, especially by phonology (dialects)

Postcolonial Englishes: English in the Outer Circle

Expanding Circle (Kachru’s model)

Diversity of English: Singlish, Chinglish, Korean English, Japanese English

Lingua Franca EnglishJames Allan

Glocal = Global + Local

Integration of globalized world and local culture and heritage

Cultural hybridization

Language resource for intercultural and functional communication

English as a Lingua Franca (ELF)

Hulmbauer, et al.A flexible communicative language

Not a property of its native speakers - not ‘norm-dependent’ English

For functional effectiveness rather than formal correctness

Not a bad or deficient English but a different English

A partner language (not a threat) in multilingual context

ELF as it is generally conceived of is essentially “a ‘contact language’ between persons who share neither a common native tongue nor a common (national) culture, and for whom English is the chosen foreign language of communication”. (Firth, 1996)

English as a Lingua FrancaFiedler Sabine

We might suggest that ELF interactants are using ELF as a means of communicating, without necessarily identify with English as a cultural symbol. (House and Edmonson)

A language selected for communication only expresses a communicative and primarily referential function, i.e. the culture associated with this natural language is not activated by its users. (Polzl)

English in its role as an international language is used as a language of communication and not as a language of identification. (Hullen)

English as a Lingua FrancaFiedler Sabine

Language of communication only? What about identity or culture?

English influenced by Anglo-American culture

...[W]hether the English that is used dominantly today is really used without any relation to L1 English and whether speakers really restrict the use of language to its communicative function without expressing identity. (Fiedler, 2011)

English as a Lingua FrancaFiedler Sabine

English as a Lingua FrancaFiedler Sabine

Identity expressed in and through language by non-native speakers based on three constituents:

1) English native language and culture

2) Speaker’s native language and culture

3) Specific ELF identity

English as a Lingua FrancaFiedler Sabine

Examples from phraseology

1) English native language and culture: non-native speakers adopt sayings from native-speaker

- In my paper you will find something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue,...

- We are in the same boat.

English as a Lingua FrancaFiedler Sabine

Examples from phraseology

2) Speaker’s native language and culture: exporting figurative expression from their own lingua-cultural backgrounds

- It’s like a red thread (=a theme) going through the text. (German)

- Using native proverb to explain something.

English as a Lingua FrancaFiedler Sabine

Examples from phraseology

3) Specific ELF identity: using English as an L2 to construct a common identity for themselves

- Culture is culture. (from ‘boys will be boys’, ‘Mum is Mum’)

- God bless the lord. (from ‘God bless you’, ‘Thank you the Lord’)

Non-native speakers tend to have a right to determine the characteristics of English as an

International Language in intercultural context.

Conclusion

What is more important to you between

using English correctly and communicating

in intercultural context?

Do you want to use English only as a

means of communication or as a tool to

communicate as well as to represent

Thainess in global community?

Thank you very much.

Sources

Fiedler, Sabine. (2011). English as a lingua franca - a native-culture-free code? Language of communication vs. language of identification. Apple - Journal of Applied Language Studies, 5(3): pp. 79-97.

Hulmbauer, Cornelia, Bohringer, Heike, and Seidlhofer, Barbara. (2008).Introducing English as a lingua franca (ELF): Precursor and partner in intercultural communication. Synergies Europe 3: pp. 25-36.

James, Allan. (2009). Theorising English and globalisation: semiodiversity and linguistic structure in Global English, World Englishes and Lingua Franca English. Apples - Journal of Applied Language Studies 3 (1): pp. 79-92.

Robertson, Roland (1997). Global Modernities. SAGE Publications Ltd.