World Enlishes 2

7/27/2019 World Enlishes 2

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An

Introduction

World Englishes

Lesson 1


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Varieties of English or Englishes

How many varieties of English can you think

of? Can you name a few? What particular variety of English do YOU

speak?

What variety or varieties do you think should

be considered proper and correct?


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The English Language In 24

Accentshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dABo_DCIdpM

Did you find the accents authentic?

Which accent & variety did you findeasiest/most difficult to understand?

Which accent & variety did you find most

interesting/amusing?

Which accent & variety would you like to

study more?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dABo_DCIdpMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dABo_DCIdpM


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The historical, social and political

context

English as a first language (L1)

- 329,140,800 speakers (cf. Crystal 2003a)

English as an institutionalised second language (L2)

- 430,614,500 speakers (cf. Crystal 2003a)

English as a foreign language (EFL)

English as a lingua franca (ELF)


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First diaspora of EnglishMigrations to North America, Australia, New Zealand

- USA/Canada : From early 17th century (English), 18th century

(North Irish) to USA.

From 17th century, African slaves to SouthAmerican states and Carribean islands.

From 1776 (American Independence) from

British settlers to Canada.

- Australia: From 1770

- New Zealand: From 1790s (official colony 1840)

L1 varieties of English = new Englishes


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Second diaspora of EnglishColonialisation of Asia and Africa

- South Africa: From 1795, 3 groups of L2 English speakers(Afrikaans/Blacks/Indians from 1860s)

- South Asia: India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal,Bhutan, from 1600 (British East India Company).

1765-1947 British sovereignty of India.

- SE Asia and South Pacific: Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong

Philippines form late 18th century (Raffles founded Singapore

1819).- Colonial Africa: West: Sierra Leone, Ghana, Gambia, Nigeria,

Cameroon, Liberia, from late 15th century (only pidgins/creoles)

East: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwefrom circa 1850

L2 varieties of English = New Englishes


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Changes in the English-speakingsettlements of the first and seconddiasporas from 1750 to 1900

First, the populations of the overseas NS(native speaker) English-speaking

settlements increased in size and became

states with governments and with a growing

sense of separate identity, which soonextended to the flavour of the English they

used.


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Second, in the United States, first of all, butlater in Australia and elsewhere, the colonies

began to take their independence from

Britain, which greatly reinforced the degree

of linguistic difference.


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Third, as the possessions stabilized andprospered, quite large numbers of people,

being non-native speakers of English, had to

learn to use the language in order to survive,

or to find employment with the governingclass, further influencing linguistic

development.


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The legacy of colonialism

The devaluing of local language and culture- Assumption of the inferiority of the

indigenous language and culture vs. thesuperiority of the colonisers and their

language- Lack of confidence with L2 users of English,

inferiority complex(Medgyes 1994)


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The primitive languages of the

barbaric savages

A knowledge of the English tongue and its authors,

therefore, appears to hold a place of first importance

for the moral and intellectual elevation of theHindoos. The English language will not only prove a

more correct medium of giving public instruction to

the students, but it will facilitate their progress to

useful knowledge. All the Indian languages havebeen for many ages the vehicle for every thing in

their superstition which is morally debasing and

corrupting to the mind

London Missionary Society, 1826


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Inferiority complex

L2 varieties of English are just beginning to win

some recognition. For many L2 speakers

good English is still synonymous with that of

educated native speakers born and bred in the

UK or North America.

In your view, do non-native speakers ofEnglish suffer from an inferiority complex over

their use of English? Should they do so?


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Native vs. non-native

In the days of the empire, the natives were the indigenouspopulations and the term itself implied uncivilized, primitive,

barbaric, even cannibalisticWith the spread of English

around the globe, native in relation to English has

acquired newer, positive connotations. Native speakers are

assumed to be advanced, civilized and educated. But as NSs

lose their linguistic advantage, with English being spoken asan International Language no less, and as bilingualism and

multilingualism become the accepted world norm, and

monolingualism the exceptionperhaps the word native will

return to its pejorative usage. (Jenkins, 2000)


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Language and Identity

To what extent do you believe it is possible

for groups of people to retain their ethnicidentity when they lose the use of their

mother tongue?

How strong a role di you think the written

language plays in forming and retaining asense of ethnic group identity?


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Recap

Which are the two dispersals of English?

Where and when did they take place? Howdo they differ?

What are the two main effects of colonialism

which influenced the development of

languages in the colonised areas? How dothese two effects manifest themselves?


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Do you agree or disagree?

When non-native speakers of English talk to

each other, they should not worry about

making mistakes as long as they cancommunicate.

Non-native speakers do not need to speak

like native speakers, nor should they feelinferior to them

Certain grammar mistakes should be

considered variants of English, not

mistakes


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How important is it to you to be

able to?

Speak English accurately

Write accurately in English Pass international exams in English

Read academic texts or literature in English

Communicate with native speakers of English Communicate with non-native speakers of English

Documents

World Enlishes 2