World English Flashcards
English as Lingua Franca (ELF)
English being used as a common language among speakers who come from different linguistic backgrounds
English as Lingua Franca refers to languages mostly from the..
Expanding circle
Jenkins points to 5 key characteristics of Elf
- Used by speakers of different languages letting them communicate with each other
- Alternative, not a replacement
- Elf depend on specific communication rather than just being an ‘all purpose English’
- Elf tends to be used for description for purpose or codification
Features of Jamaican English (3)
- Th fronting
- H dropping
- Rhotic R used 21.7% of the time
Pluricentric
Language with several standard forms
Mono centric
Language with one standard form
Summarise 2 opposing arguments against elf
- Elf is monolithic and mono centric
- Lack standards therefore exhibits errors where departing from inner circle Englishes
Inner circle
Countries that speak English as their first language
Outer circle
Countries that speak English but not as a first language
E.g. Nigeria
Expanding circle
English not spoken at all within that country
E.g. Japan
Who made the circle model
Kachru
Criticism of the circle model
Doesn’t address diversity of Englishes within circle - doesn’t take into account the ‘grey’ area that exists between circles
Key characteristics of ELF
- Used by speakers of different languages allowing them to communicate with each other
- Alternative to EFL rather than a replacement for it
- ELF tends to be used for description for purpose of codification
Codification
Laying down a model for standard use of English
Criticisms of elf
Spread to English as global language disadvantages other languages, causing them to loose prestige or die out.
As it’s implemented as more prestigious - ‘The language of academics’ in India
