English Language A Level Models of World Englishes Paul Heselton

Summary

This video explores international varieties of English, focusing on the concept of 'Englishes' and whether English is fragmenting into different forms. Paul discusses key models, such as Kachru's Three Circles of English, McArthur's global English, and Schneider's postcolonial English model. He highlights challenges to these models, especially with the rise of the internet and linguistic diversity. The video also examines English as a Lingua Franca (ELF), Singaporean English, and the processes that shape new varieties of English, providing a broad overview of how English evolves globally.

Takeaways

• 📚 The video discusses international varieties of English, including L1 and L2 English, and explores models of how English is evolving globally.
• 🌍 David Crystal emphasizes the idea of 'Englishes,' arguing that there is no single English, but rather multiple forms, even within countries like the UK.
• 🔄 The concept of 'breaking up' in language change is considered, with a reference to metaphors like the 'crumbling castle' to describe concerns over language fragmentation.
• 🌀 Raj Kachru's 'Three Circles of English' model classifies English speakers into inner, outer, and expanding circles, distinguishing between native speakers (L1), second-language speakers (L2), and foreign language learners (EFL).
• 💻 One criticism of Kachru's model is that it predates the internet, which has blurred distinctions between English users, and it does not account for English diversity within circles.
• 🗺️ Tom McArthur offers an alternative model with world standard English at the center, followed by regional standards and local varieties, though this model has also faced criticism.
• 🌐 English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) is discussed as a means of communication between non-native speakers, with notable work by Jennifer Jenkins emphasizing linguistic accommodation and code-switching.
• 🔤 Common features of ELF include dropping the third-person present simple 's,' interchangeability of relative pronouns, and variation in article usage.
• 🇸🇬 Singapore is used as a case study to illustrate Schneider’s model of postcolonial English development, with phases like foundation, exonormative stabilization, and endonormative stabilization.
• 🗣️ In Singapore English, three levels of language (acrolect, mesolect, and basilect) reflect different distances from British standard English, and local linguistic features like particles are prevalent.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed in this video?

The main topic of the video is international varieties of English, specifically exploring different models of English and the concept of English breaking up into multiple Englishes.

Who is David Crystal and what is his view on 'Englishes'?

David Crystal is a linguist who strongly argues that the concept of 'Englishes' is plural, meaning there is no single version of English but rather multiple varieties, which can be observed both globally and nationally.

What is Braj Kachru's 'Three Circles of English' model?

Braj Kachru's model divides English into three circles: the Inner Circle (native speakers from countries like the UK, US, Australia), the Outer Circle (second language speakers from countries like India and Nigeria), and the Expanding Circle (learners of English as a foreign language in countries like China and Russia).

What are the criticisms of Kachru's 'Three Circles of English' model?

Criticisms of Kachru's model include that it was devised before the rise of the internet, which has blurred distinctions between users; it does not account for the diversity within each circle; it fails to address the proficiency levels within the Outer and Expanding Circles; and it appears to make implicit value judgments, suggesting that Inner Circle users are the 'true' core users of English.

What is Tom McArthur's model of world English, and how does it differ from Kachru's model?

Tom McArthur's model places 'World Standard English' at the center, surrounded by regional standards (like British, American, and Canadian English), and then an outer layer with localized varieties. Unlike Kachru's model, McArthur's model recognizes regional differences within 'standards,' but it has been criticized for conflating different types of English and not distinguishing between English-based pidgins and creoles.

What is 'English as a Lingua Franca' (ELF), and how does it differ from standard English?

English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) refers to a form of English used for communication between speakers who do not share a native language. ELF may include local varieties and is not limited to correct standard forms, often featuring linguistic accommodation, code-switching, and identifiable differences in grammar, such as dropping the third-person present simple 's'.

What are some common features of ELF?

Common features of ELF include dropping the third-person present simple 's,' interchangeability of relative pronouns, differences in article usage, unchanging tag questions like 'isn't it' or 'no,' different prepositional usage, and explicit statements with redundant words (e.g., 'black color').

What is Schneider's dynamic model of postcolonial English?

Schneider's dynamic model of postcolonial English explains how varieties of English develop in colonized countries through five phases: Foundation, Exonormative Stabilization, Nativization, Endonormative Stabilization, and Differentiation. Each phase shows a progression from colonial influence to the establishment of new, localized varieties.

How does the Singaporean variety of English fit into Schneider's model?

Singaporean English follows Schneider's model by first being influenced by British colonization (Foundation), becoming prestigious as British English (Exonormative Stabilization), developing unique forms like the use of 'ah' or 'la' (Nativization), stabilizing with different levels of usage (Acrolect, Mesolect, Basilect), and finally diversifying into distinct local varieties (Differentiation).

What are the three levels of Singaporean English, according to Schneider's model?

The three levels of Singaporean English are Acrolect (similar to Standard British English), Mesolect (shows features distinct from British English, like different question forms or article deletion), and Basilect (most distinct from British English, also known as Singlish, featuring unique tag questions and verb omissions).