World Englishes

Question 1

Which two theorists created those dreaded circles of World Englishes and which was first?

Answer 1

McArthur
Kachru (was first)

Question 2

How is Kachru’s circle model slightly problematic?

Answer 2

It organises the Englishes through a system of ‘inner circle’, ‘outer circle’ and ‘expanding circle’, which implies some form of hierarchy

Question 3

How is McArthur’s circle model organised?

Answer 3

It categorises the World Englishes by type (e.g. BBC English, Scottish English and English English are in the ‘British and Irish Standard English’ section).
Some of the categories are labelled as ‘standard’ and others are labelled as ‘standardising’

Question 4

What does ELF stand for and what does it mean?

Answer 4

English as Lingua Franca- it means that English can be used in interactions as a bridging language when the speakers do not the same first language (e.g. a Polish person talking to a German person)

Question 5

What is a pidgin?

Answer 5

It is a sort of simplified mixed version of language, so it has no native speakers

Question 6

What is a creole?