Unit 7 emerging new Englishes a focus for debate

Understanding a debate: Whether local standards in language using are varieties or inter-languages.

Debate on 3 questions The position of standard English

What is meant by emerging new Englishes  Special terms in the discussion: inner circle, outer circle, expanding circle E1L; ESL; EFL P 314 P315Variation with the user: dialectal variation Variation with the use: diatypic

Examining the significance of new standards  New standards refer to the use of English in Hong Kong and Singapore.

 New standards refer to local standards of English use which are different from that of standard British English and standard American English.  How we look at the significance of new standards is very important. It will guide our teaching.

Case study: ELT problems in Hong Kong

 He/she; single/plural form of nouns  In Hong Kong, people might use he for she, single for plural. It is regarded as right by some teachers, not right by others. But people claim it’s Hong Kong, so it is right. It is their local standards.

 Some other problems on P318

Focus on 2 dialogue

    Inter-language is used for the languages of learners who have only partial control of a language.

Professor thinks local standards should not be institutionalized. He means that should not be used in schools and universities.

The intra-use and international use of a language What should be taught is not clear cut, because of the use of language is not definite , intra or international.

   where local written standards are emerging in use, the question may arise.

It isn't "Should they be used?" - they will be. It is "Should they be taught in the educational system?“ the advantages are several: i. They are easier and quicker to learn (so more learners will succeed).

i. There are useful where there are many languages in use in a country and no common language.

:. Only a minority of people need a language for international use.

the disadvantages are: Local standards change quickly and are not well regarded internationally.

If they are used internationally, they don't do justice to the user or his ideas. Local Standards are emerging and changing, so there may not be enough suitable teachers, or teaching materials, Again the advantages are several: Standard English is stable and has prestige worldwide.

It opens up an immense quantity of literature on all topics and, increasingly, it makes electronically store material available.

Disadvantages : it may take longer to learn them than a local standard; fewer people will succeed.

Standard english offers much more in return to those who do, and is the best choice except where the need for a common language has to come before everything else. That is not the case in hong kong .

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How to solve the problems in HK

You will be glad to know it isn't just your problem and it isn't only a problem in Hong Kong. In many parts of the world where English is widely used, local Englishes and local standards are emerging. To native speakers, and competent users of English these standards seem partial, incomplete, ungrammatical - just like the interlanguages produced by learners.

Not everyone regards them in the same way. I notice some of your colleagues don't see. They say that if local standards can be understood, that is all that matters. If they work locally, they say, why not teach them in the schools? They are easier and quicker to learn than Standard English. Most people don't need an international language anyway!

In our view that case can be made for countries like India, where the vast size and the huge number of different languages make a common language, for use inside the country absolutely essential. I don't need to tell you it isn't like that in Hong Kong! Hong Kong people need an internationally accepted language. They have everything to gain from studying Standard English. The constant deviations from the Standard should not be accepted and taught - they will be the losers if they are. Professor Guide thinks you could put it to them very much in these terms. He has some references I could send you.

 Yours Steven

Activity 2 international voices in English

    The international use of English means that there can be an international literature written in one part of the English using world, and available everywhere that English is used.

New Englishes developed and produced in one region but widely understood, have a role in this literature. They can make possible an imaginative understanding of what it is like to live in that place and to share its culture.

Anyone who has English as an additional language can have an English voice in addition to the voice that belongs to the mother tongue and its culture.

That user can now reach very scattered, varied, and distant readers. It is much easier to do this than most people think — provided you are not too ambitious at the start!

Emerging englishes

 Authoritative statements of opposed views on new standards and international standards.

 Table

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Two views of how English should be studied

These two views are linked with the names of two authorities: the deficit view with Sir Randolph Quirk (1990) and the liberation view with Braj Kachru (1991)  The Quirk view :is that the term Standard English applies only to Standard British and American English. This Standard is what learners of English as an international language want to learn, and this is what should be taught. Teachers who are not native speakers need to keep in constant touch with this Standard. They should correct their students when differences from this Standard appear in their writing. That is what students expect and want. It is the only way they can move steadily nearer their goal, which is internationally acceptable English.

 The Kachru view :is that New Englishes are now developing in parts of the world where the most important use of English is for communication in multi-lingual communities. Each has its own standard, that could and should be the English taught in schools. These new Standards are different from Standard British and American English. They are easier, quicker and cheaper for people in those countries to learn. They should be taught in schools, by local teachers. They should be respected as Emerging Standards. They're not evidence that the educational systems are failing their students.