Dr. Salomi Papadima-Sophocleous1 TEFL 1 – The world of English A. The place of English English is not the language with the largest number of native or

Dr. Salomi Papadima-Sophocleous 1

TEFL 1 – The world of English

A. The place of English

English is not the language with the largest number of native or first language speakers.



A. The place of EnglishEnglish is a lingua franca.Definition - Lingua franca: a language widely adopted for communication between two speakers whose native languages are different from each other’s and where one or both speakers are using it as an L2.




Lingua franca

In Ancient Times in the western world: Ancient Greek

In Middle Ages in Europe: Latin



A. The place of EnglishEnglish is one of the main languages of International communicationEven people who are not speakers of English often know words such as: bank, chocolate, computer, hamburger, hospital, hot dog, hotel, piano, radio, restaurant, taxi, telephone, television, university and walkman. Many of these words have themselves been borrowed by English from other languages of course.




A1 The numbers game

English: L1 or L2?


TEFL – The world of English


A1 The numbers game

Bray Kachry (1985):

320-380 million: L1

250-350 million: L2



A. The place of EnglishA1 The numbers game

David Crystal (1995 &1997)In 75 territories where English ‘holds a special place’ (not only Britain, the USA, Australia, Canada, etc. but also places such as Hong Kong, India, Malaysia and Nigeria):277 million L198 million L2 (350 million if L2 speakers in e.g. Canada or Australia)




A1 The numbers game

Between 600-700 million people in the world speak English (L1 or L2)

B. Kachru 1983 prediction: “… If the spread of English continues at the current rate, by the year 2000 its non-native speakers will outnumber its native speakers”




A1 The numbers game

Even if English will not remain dominant among world languages, it will remain a vital linguistic tool for many business people, academics, tourists and citizens of the world who wish to communicate easily across nationalities for many years to come.




A2 How English got there

A colonial history

Economics

Travel

Information exchange

Popular culture



A. The place of EnglishA3 Where English fitsBattle for a place among other languages

dubbed filmsInternet growth of other languages (54% EN 1999 dropping)Battle with local languagesLinguistic and cultural imperialism



A. The place of EnglishA4 The future of English

What happens as more and more people appropriate it for their own use?Will it split into varieties that become less mutually intelligible?Will it continue to march over the globe crushing all in its path?Will it be the only language left?




A4 The future of English

Graddol (1997) future possibilities:

Hispanic as a language community is the fastest-growing in the USA

Internet and the WWW: 80% English in 1990s to drop around 40% by 2010



B. Varieties of EnglishB1 Three circles

Is English just ONE ENGLISH or has it got many forms, depending on who speaks or writes it and where they do this? (difference in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar)



B. Varieties of English

B1 Three circles

Outer Circle

Expanding Circle

Outer Circle

Inner Circle

e.g. India, Singapore

150-300 million

e.g. China, Russia

100-1000 million

e.g. USA, UK

320-380 million




B1 Three circles

ENGLISHES:

British? USA? Australian? South African? Canadian? Sri Lankan? Nigerian?




B1 Three circles

British, which British?

British Isles, London, Scotland, Ireland, Yorkshire, etc.

Examples:

Londoner: get a take-away meal

Scottish person: order a carry-out.




B1 Three circles

American English, which American English?

Australian English, which Australian English?




B1 Three circles

Factors determining type of English:

Geographic

Region

Social class

Ethnic grouping

Sex



B. Varieties of EnglishB2 Appropriate models of EnglishWhich English to teach? Factors:

Work with the variety that best reflects the teacher’s own language use, always provided that this will be understood by most other English speakers in the worldExpose students to others as wellConsider students’ needs (what the students are most likely to come into contact with)Consider resources



B. Varieties of EnglishB3 General or SpecificGeneral

All-purpose language: different language skills, topics from a range of sources, basing their selection of content more on student interest and engagement. Communicate on a general social level and to cope with the normal range of texts which educated language users experience outside their professional lives.Decision based – when we do not know how, why or when students will need the language in the future; give them language with the broadest range of use possible.



B. Varieties of EnglishB1 Three circlesSpecific:

ESP (English for Specific Purposes)EAP (English for Academic Purposes)EST (English for Science and Technology)Business EnglishOther

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Dr. Salomi Papadima-Sophocleous1 TEFL 1 – The world of English A. The place of English English is not the language with the largest number of native or