This course seeks to enable students to understand issues related to the current status of English as a ‘global language’, and the emergence of ‘world Englishes’ in many societies throughout the world. This will be achieved through a critical analysis of the cultural, political, and ethical dimension of English’s global spread. Through using ‘real-life’ examples, the course will assist students to describe and analyse varieties of English, with particular reference to English in Asia, English in Hong Kong and English in China. In doing so, the course will explore the ways in which evolving globalising trends are contributing to how English is interpreted within global and local contexts. From studying the course, students will gain a deeper understanding of the strategic linguistic adjustments necessary for effective intercultural communication in both professional and social domains, as well as developing awareness of the wealth of opportunities for communicative interaction that accompany the globalisation process.
This book provides comprehensive coverage of relevant research in the fields of World Englishes, English as a Lingua Franca, and English as an International Language. The book introduces students to the current sociolinguistic uses of the English language, using a range of engaging and accessible examples from newspapers (Observer, Independent, Wall Street Journal), advertisements, and television shows. The book explains key concepts connected to the historical and contemporary spread of English, explores the social, economic, educational, and political implications of English’s rise as a world language, and includes comprehensive classroom-based activities, case studies, research tasks, assessment prompts, and extensive online resources.
Written from a non-Western perspective, this book exposes the inadequacy of oppositions such as native versus non-native Englishes and English versus New Englishes. It explains why the label 'World Englishes' captures both what the different Englishes share and how they differ from each other. It also criticizes the kinds of power asymmetries that have evolved between the Inner, Outer, and Expanding Circles of English, while showing the extent to which the Outer Circle has enriched their common language and made it suitable for both its heritage and non-heritage users. The narrative is grounded in a wealth of historical knowledge, especially that of the colonization of the Outer Circle.
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