013095 Global Englishes

Description

This subject explores the implications of the global spread of English, a hotly debated current issue in TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages) and applied linguistics. It examines the general causes and effects of the global spread of English, from its colonial origins to its contemporary role in the world. This includes linguistic imperialism, linguistic genocide, and the maintenance of global inequality. English is then presented in the varied contexts in which it occurs, and the implications of English having become both a global and a local language in many parts of the world are discussed. The contemporary roles, status, forms and implications of different varieties of new Englishes, including Indian, Singaporean and Australian Aboriginal English, as well as pidgins and creoles are considered. Educational implications of the current role of English are explored in the final part of the subject, with a focus on the native-non-native speaker debate, textbooks, methods and testing.