Global English

Question 1

What is a Pidgin?

Answer 1

A grammatically simplified form of a language, typically English, Dutch or Portuguese, some elements of which are taken from local languages, used for communication between people not sharing a common language.

Question 2

What is a Creole?

Answer 2

A mother tongue formed from the contact of a European language (especially English and French) with local languages (especially African languages spoken by slaves in the West Indies).

Question 3

What is an Acrolect?

Answer 3

The variety of speech that is closest to a standard prestige language, especially in an area where a creole is spoken.

Question 4

What is a Basilect?

Answer 4

The variety of speech that is most remote to a standard prestige language, especially in an area where a creole is spoken.

Question 5

What is a Diaspora?

Answer 5

The dispersal of language around the world.

Question 6

What is Globalisation?

Answer 6

The process by which businesses, or other organisations, develop international influence or operate on an international scale.

Question 7

What is a Lingua-Franca?

Answer 7

A language that is adopted as a common language between speakers whose native language are different.

Question 8

What is a Heritage Language?

Answer 8

A language that is not the dominant language in the society in which someone lives, yet it is one that is spoken at home.

Question 9

What is Code Switching?

Answer 9

When speakers who speak two or more different languages switch from one to the other, often in mid conversation. Can also be used to refer to switching between dialects of the same accent.

Question 10

What is Covert Prestige?

Answer 10

The less obvious or hidden prestige associated with the use of certain non-standard varieties of a language within particular social groups.

Question 11

What is Overt Prestige?

Answer 11

The obvious prestige associated with the use of the standard variety of a language within a particular society. Connected to notions of speaking ‘properly’.

Question 12

What is a multiethnolect?

Answer 12

A collection of linguistic resources combining features from a variety of languages within a multi-ethnic, multicultural context.

Question 13

What are Kachru’s three circles? (1992)

Answer 13

1. The Inner Circle: where English is used as a first language, acquired from birth by most
2. The Outer Circle: includes countries colonised by Britain and the USA where English is spoken as a second language and plays an important historical and governmental role
3. The Expanding Circle: where English is not an official language, but is recognised as important as a foreign language, perhaps for trade

Question 14

How does Canagarajah criticise Kachru’s circles?

Answer 14

Questioned the validity of Kachru’s circles as migration and modern technology have led to the ‘leaking’ of clearly defined circles.

Question 15

What did Kandiah (1998) state was the reason for the spread of English?

Answer 15

The reason for the spread of the English Language was colonisation.

Question 16

Why does Crystal believe English has become the world’s leading language?

Answer 16

1. English was distributed around the world as the language of the British Empire.
2. It was the language of the industrial revolution, technological innovation and western science.
3. It is the language of the USA, the world’s remaining super-power.

Question 17

What is Schneider’s dynamic model of postcolonial English?

Answer 17

1. Foundation- English is newly distributed to a geographical area.
2. Exonormative stabilisation- English begins to be used, modelled closely on the British standard forms.
3. Nativisation- Old and new languages become more closely linked. Neologisms occur.
4. Endonormative- The local variety of English is accepted as the norm.
5. Differentiation- New variety reflects local identity and culture.

Question 18

What does Janet Holmes state about code switching?

Answer 18

Don’t need to be perfect speakers of the second language. ​

Can use individual words or phrases to reaffirm or signal their ethnic identity to others, thus creating a sense of solidarity. ​

Code switching can be used as a way of performing identity; one person with two languages may have two identities.

Question 19

What did Sharma investigate in 2011?

Answer 19

Investigated Punjabi speaking Indians in West London; exploring their performance of both languages.

Question 20

What are the features of Valley Talk?

Answer 20

The sound of Valleyspeak has these main habits: nasal sound; fast-paced run-on sentences; breathiness; uptalk, or the sound of a question; and vocal fry. High rising terminal (also called “up speak” or “uptalk”) is a defining feature of Valleyspeak.

Question 21

What is Singlish?

Answer 21

Singlish first emerged when Singapore gained independence 50 years ago, and decided that English should be the common language for all its different races.​

Among ordinary Singaporeans, Singlish tends to be spoken in informal situations - with friends and family, taking a taxi or buying groceries. It indicates casual intimacy. English, on the other hand, is used for formal situations - at school, or at work, especially when meeting strangers or clients.​

Over time, it has become a social marker - someone who can effectively switch between the two languages is perceived to be more educated and of a higher social status than someone who can only speak Singlish.​

Question 22

What was the Speak Good Campaign?

Answer 22

A Campaign created by the Singaporean government to encourage the spoken use of English as a prestigious variety.

Question 23

Who was Noah Webster?

Answer 23

A linguistic and American Lexicographer who recorded the first forms of American English creating America’s first Dictionary