Global Englishes

Diachronic change: studies history and evolution of language change

Synchronic change: studies language change at a particular point in time

LANGUAGE is NOT a static monolith

English represented with blended noun 'GLOBISH' - highlight worlwide influence, 2 billion speakers

Forms many hybrid languages- Hinglish, Singlish, given rise to Pidgin languages and Creoles

Jamaican Creole:

• Basilect-
• Acrolect

Historical context (Global Englishes)

• British Empire = colonisation caused English to become dominant language
• Langauge of power and government
• Migration
• Globalisation = heightened impact of technology and American English
• Trade, business, law
• Technology
• Trade, business and law
• Science and technology = Latinate roots
• Education and literature
• Media
• Social, ideological and cultural changes
• Political correctness: euphemisms over dysphemisms
• Media: hyperbolic language, abbreviated

Lingua Franca:

Common language amongst speakers from a variety of different backgrounds (

• English in ethnically heteregenous communities in U
• Kachru's Three Circle Model
• Inner circle- core users of English as a firts lnaguage: UK, USA
• Outer circle- where English has 'official status', but there are also other dominant langaues: India, Nigeria
• Expanding circle- English does not have 'official status', but is continuing to grow due to influence in business etc. (China, Russia)
• 
  

Dennis Freeborn builds Jean Aitcheson's LC  metaphors, by summarising how regional accents are perceivd:

1. Incorrectness view: relative to RP; refuted by Freeborn by arguing accent popularity determined by cultural fashion, RP only standard due to social prestige
2. Ugliness view: accentism (Dan Clayton), negative social connotations of class
3. Imprecisness: (Damp Spoon) - JA, some accents/dialects are sloppy/lazy

David Crystal: importance of bidialectism and bilingualism = codeswithcing

• Solidarity w/ social group
• Exclude other
• Expression- convenience