English 121English 121

--Where does English go from here?--Where does English go from here?

--World Englishes Questions and --World Englishes Questions and AnswersAnswers

What will happen to English What will happen to English during the next century?during the next century?

Is English splitting into many different Is English splitting into many different fragments? (Divergence)fragments? (Divergence)

oror

Is English tending to become more Is English tending to become more standardized because of international standardized because of international use? (Convergence)use? (Convergence)

DivergenceDivergence

Growing national pride in local varieties of Growing national pride in local varieties of EnglishEnglish

Indian EnglishIndian EnglishSingaporean EnglishSingaporean EnglishNigerian EnglishNigerian EnglishMalaysian EnglishMalaysian EnglishSri-Lankan EnglishSri-Lankan EnglishCaribbean EnglishCaribbean EnglishInternational EnglishInternational English

DivergenceDivergence

It is likely that mutually unintelligible forms It is likely that mutually unintelligible forms of English will increasingly develop as the of English will increasingly develop as the language is taught and learned in areas of language is taught and learned in areas of the world which are isolated from contact the world which are isolated from contact with first-language speakers. with first-language speakers.

ConvergenceConvergence

Worldwide influence of the Internet, Worldwide influence of the Internet, American global broadcasters such as American global broadcasters such as

CNN CNN Movies/TelevisionMovies/Television International PoliticsInternational PoliticsBusinessBusinessEducationEducation

ConvergenceConvergence

It is also likely that English will remain It is also likely that English will remain mutually intelligible because of the mutually intelligible because of the constant interaction (electronic and constant interaction (electronic and otherwise) between the Englishes of otherwise) between the Englishes of various parts of the world, and the value of various parts of the world, and the value of English as lingua franca. English as lingua franca.

Both?Both?

The one certainty is that the English The one certainty is that the English language will continue to change in the language will continue to change in the future, and to respond in dynamic and future, and to respond in dynamic and unpredictable ways as its use increases unpredictable ways as its use increases across the world. across the world.

Questions about EnglishQuestions about English

Are there any words that mean Are there any words that mean completely different things in various completely different things in various

parts of the world?parts of the world?

rubberrubber British English ‘an eraser’; American British English ‘an eraser’; American English ‘a condom’English ‘a condom’

Walking on the Walking on the pavement pavement is safe in Britain is safe in Britain (where it means ‘sidewalk’) but fatal in North (where it means ‘sidewalk’) but fatal in North America (where it means the paved surface of a America (where it means the paved surface of a road) road)

In South Africa, In South Africa, robotrobot is the standard name for a is the standard name for a set of traffic lights, a set of traffic lights, a globeglobe is an electric light is an electric light bulb, and a bulb, and a packetpacket is a shopping bag is a shopping bag

Which varieties of English are spoken by Which varieties of English are spoken by the largest and the smallest numbers of the largest and the smallest numbers of

people?people?

American English is the largest variety, spoken American English is the largest variety, spoken by 250 million people.by 250 million people.

It is difficult to select the variety with the smallest It is difficult to select the variety with the smallest number of English-speakers (would only number of English-speakers (would only predominantly English-speaking countries be predominantly English-speaking countries be considered? Would second-language speakers considered? Would second-language speakers count?) but as an example, in 1993 the first-count?) but as an example, in 1993 the first-language speakers of English in Hong Kong language speakers of English in Hong Kong were estimated to number 59,000. were estimated to number 59,000.

However, all English-speaking populations are However, all English-speaking populations are undoubtedly growing in numbers, so estimates undoubtedly growing in numbers, so estimates become inaccurate quite rapidly! become inaccurate quite rapidly!

What was the first country What was the first country outside Britain to use English outside Britain to use English as its first language?as its first language?

Ireland was invaded by an English force Ireland was invaded by an English force under Henry II in 1171, after which under Henry II in 1171, after which Norman French and English were Norman French and English were introduced. introduced.

The first significant and fast-growing The first significant and fast-growing English-speaking settlement dates from English-speaking settlement dates from 1607, at Jamestown in the colony of 1607, at Jamestown in the colony of Virginia.Virginia.

Are there varieties of spoken Are there varieties of spoken English which might be English which might be unintelligible to someone from unintelligible to someone from London or New York?London or New York?

Some varieties may be unintelligible within Some varieties may be unintelligible within particular countries!particular countries!

There are certainly varieties of British There are certainly varieties of British English which Americans can’t English which Americans can’t understand, and vice versa .understand, and vice versa .

There are some varieties of English among There are some varieties of English among second-language speakers (for instance in second-language speakers (for instance in Africa and Asia) which border on pidgin English, Africa and Asia) which border on pidgin English, and which would be unintelligible to most and which would be unintelligible to most English speakers.English speakers. Krio (Sierra Leone),Krio (Sierra Leone), Gullah (South Carolina and Georgia in the United Gullah (South Carolina and Georgia in the United

States)States) Tok Pisin (Papua New Guinea)Tok Pisin (Papua New Guinea) The creoles of the Caribbean region The creoles of the Caribbean region

Does the Internet lead to a Does the Internet lead to a brand of English that brand of English that suppresses local variation in suppresses local variation in favor of quick and easy favor of quick and easy communication?communication?

To an extent, when users of the Internet opt for To an extent, when users of the Internet opt for online jargon and e-mail abbreviations and online jargon and e-mail abbreviations and suppress any regional vocabulary which they suppress any regional vocabulary which they feel might not be understood. feel might not be understood.

There is no proof that this online behavior will There is no proof that this online behavior will influence the varieties of English in any influence the varieties of English in any significant way, for example by making the significant way, for example by making the different spoken varieties into a single bland different spoken varieties into a single bland Internet English.Internet English.

Is it possible to produce a Is it possible to produce a dictionary that truly covers all dictionary that truly covers all the world Englishes?the world Englishes?

No single dictionary could hope to cover No single dictionary could hope to cover all varieties of English comprehensively, all varieties of English comprehensively, but the but the Oxford English DictionaryOxford English Dictionary ( (OEDOED), ), recognizing the importance of recording recognizing the importance of recording the ‘family’ of English as fully as possible, the ‘family’ of English as fully as possible, is attempting to include the significant local is attempting to include the significant local words from each of the major English-words from each of the major English-speaking areas. speaking areas.

Do all English-speaking Do all English-speaking countries have their own countries have their own English dictionaries?English dictionaries?

No, not ye. Many of the smaller varieties still No, not ye. Many of the smaller varieties still need documentationneed documentation

There are dictionaries forThere are dictionaries for British EnglishBritish English American EnglishAmerican English Australian EnglishAustralian English New Zealand EnglishNew Zealand English Canadian EnglishCanadian English South African EnglishSouth African English Caribbean EnglishCaribbean English

Are people everywhere worried about Are people everywhere worried about the misuse of English, and about the misuse of English, and about maintaining its ‘purity’?maintaining its ‘purity’?

In every English-speaking country there In every English-speaking country there are people with these concerns. These are are people with these concerns. These are difficult issues to address, as each person difficult issues to address, as each person has his or her particular likes and dislikes, has his or her particular likes and dislikes, and there are often strong feelings about and there are often strong feelings about the ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ uses of language. the ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ uses of language.

The central issue seems to be that The central issue seems to be that language change is inevitable and language change is inevitable and unstoppable.unstoppable.

From the beginning English has stretched From the beginning English has stretched and enriched itself by absorbing words and enriched itself by absorbing words from other languages—Scandinavian, from other languages—Scandinavian, French, Latin, and Greek, to name but a French, Latin, and Greek, to name but a few—and thus the concept of a ‘pure’ few—and thus the concept of a ‘pure’ English is difficult to support. English is difficult to support.

Grammatical adaptation has also taken place Grammatical adaptation has also taken place over the centuries; and looking at the over the centuries; and looking at the complications of Old English, we can be deeply complications of Old English, we can be deeply thankful for this fact.thankful for this fact.

It is useful, however, to differentiate between It is useful, however, to differentiate between what is beyond our control (historical language what is beyond our control (historical language change) and what we can influence (good change) and what we can influence (good teaching of English, wide reading, support of teaching of English, wide reading, support of poets, novelists, and playwrights). poets, novelists, and playwrights).

Good, effective, creative use of English Good, effective, creative use of English and the control of a wide vocabulary are and the control of a wide vocabulary are skills which every person has the power to skills which every person has the power to use and encourage in others.use and encourage in others.

What can you do next?What can you do next?

Approach your other classes with an Approach your other classes with an understanding of language and how it understanding of language and how it works—and doesn’t work.works—and doesn’t work.

Don’t let anyone tell you that you do not Don’t let anyone tell you that you do not know your own language very well. Even know your own language very well. Even if you are a second language speakers, if you are a second language speakers, consider all that you do know about consider all that you do know about English.English.

Embrace your ability to change language Embrace your ability to change language in order to use it for your own purposes.in order to use it for your own purposes.

ButBut

Understand that there are good reasons to Understand that there are good reasons to follow language rules—sometimes, not all follow language rules—sometimes, not all of the time.of the time.

Take more linguistics classes.Take more linguistics classes.Become a linguistBecome a linguist

Our field needs more people to work with Our field needs more people to work with language.language.

That’s all…That’s all…

Final ExamFinal Exam

Tuesday, December 13—12:30-2:30 in Tuesday, December 13—12:30-2:30 in this room.this room.

Study guide is available on-lineStudy guide is available on-line