Kachru’s Three Circles Model of English
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Kachru’s Three Circles Model of English

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Questions and Answers

What is the main characteristic of a prescriptivist approach to linguistics?

  • It emphasizes strict rules and norms regarding language. (correct)
  • It focuses solely on historical language forms.
  • It encourages the use of non-standard forms.
  • It promotes the merging of different dialects.

    • What does dialect leveling primarily lead to?

  • The emergence of entirely new languages.
  • The preservation of local dialect forms.
  • Increased variation within a dialect.
  • A decrease in linguistic differences among dialects. (correct)

    • Which statement accurately describes geographic diffusion in the context of language?

  • It represents the impact of technology on language preservation.
  • It refers to the linguistic features that originate from a single community.
  • It occurs when dialects lose distinct characteristics due to social pressures.
  • It involves the spread of language features as speakers move between communities. (correct)

    • What defines Standard English?

    <p>The form of English accepted as the norm for comparison.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do prescriptivist and descriptivist approaches differ?

    <p>Descriptivists describe language usage without imposing rules, while prescriptivists focus on standard forms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What criteria is NOT required for a language to be considered a global language?

    <p>Restricted geographical range</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'lingua franca' refer to?

    <p>A common means of communication between different native language speakers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a potential threat to the English language?

    <p>Increased nationalism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What process explains the change in language when groups adopt another culture's language?

    <p>Assimilation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What term describes the varieties of English that are not officially recognized, such as Singlish or Chinglish?

    <p>Unofficial varieties</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which theory suggests that speakers modify their speech styles to enhance mutual understanding?

    <p>Accommodation theory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Kachru’s Three Circles Model primarily highlight?

    <p>The history of English spread and its contextual prestige</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is 'interlanguage' primarily associated with?

    <p>Language produced by learners in the process of learning</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the 'Inner Circle' in the context of English usage?

    <p>Countries where English is the mother tongue</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a significant advantage of the pluralization of Englishes?

    <p>It recognizes the existence of diverse English varieties.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to David Graddol's 1997 model, what is expected to happen to native English speakers?

    <p>They will soon be outnumbered by second language speakers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the 'Expanding Circle' represent in the context discussed?

    <p>Countries with no colonization history, using English for international communication.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    One disadvantage of the current English classification model is that it implies:

    <p>Only standard varieties should be taught.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does received pronunciation refer to?

    <p>An accent associated with educated speakers in the UK</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'lingua franca' refer to in relation to the expanding circles of English?

    <p>A common language that facilitates communication among speakers of different native languages.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What focus should the education of English emphasize according to the new model proposed?

    <p>Practical communication skills and cultural awareness.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are New Englishes characterized by?

    <p>A distinct form differing from standard English</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement about the Outer Circle is correct?

    <p>Countries in the Outer Circle use English as a second language with equal status to native languages.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does fragmentation in language refer to?

    <p>The divergence of a language into distinct varieties</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes a creole from a pidgin?

    <p>A creole is a fully developed language, whereas a pidgin is simplified and lacks native speakers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does urbanization contribute to language development?

    <p>By merging different linguistic features into new forms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements is true about mutually intelligible languages?

    <p>Speakers can understand each other without study</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the key characteristic of isolationism in language context?

    <p>Avoidance of outside linguistic influences</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is dialect mixing?

    <p>The blending of features from different dialects or languages</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What phenomenon describes the situation where one language dominates another, often linked to power structures?

    <p>Linguistic imperialism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of language death occurs gradually as younger generations switch to a dominant language?

    <p>Gradual language death</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What term refers to the creation of new words to describe local flora and fauna in different regions?

    <p>Invention</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor has contributed to the global dominance of the English language?

    <p>Global military reach</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of 'bottom-to-top death' in language decline?

    <p>Switching to a dominant language starts with least proficient speakers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What concept involves the expansion of the U.S. across the American continents?

    <p>Manifest destiny</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a consequence of linguistic imperialism as argued by Robert Phillipson?

    <p>Impoverishment of the culture</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What period is characterized by the influential publication of dictionaries aiding in the standardization of English?

    <p>The Golden Ages of dictionaries</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Kachru’s Three Circles Model

    • Developed by Braj Kachru in 1985
    • Highlights how English is used across the world based on its history and spread
    • Countries are grouped into three circles reflecting their relationship to English and its prestige:
      • Inner Circle: English as a native language (UK, USA)
      • Outer Circle: Countries colonized by the British with English as an official language (India)
      • Expanding Circle: English as a foreign language, without a colonial history (China)

    Global Language Criteria

    • A high number of native speakers (L1) - Must be spoken by a significant proportion of people globally
    • Speakers must be distributed over a diverse geographical area - The language must not be restricted to just one region
    • Political and economic stability of the users - Helps to ensure that the language is widely used in various industries and sectors
    • Widespread usage as a second language (L2) - Must be adopted by a significant portion of the population in different countries to serve as a common language for communication

    Criteria for a Global Language

    • Global Language: A language spoken and used across diverse cultures and countries, functioning as a common language for international discourse
    • Multilingualism: The use of two or more languages by an individual or community, switching between languages based on different contexts
    • Lingua Franca: A commonly used language for communication between speakers of different native languages
    • Assimilation: The process of an individual or group adopting the language, culture, and practices of another group, leading to a loss of their original language and culture.

    Threats to the English Language

    • Nationalism: Identities rooted in a nation's beliefs and values, opposing English's influence
    • Difficulty: Learning English can be perceived as challenging, deterring some from acquiring it.
    • Accessible translation: Translation tools ease communication barriers leading to less demand for learning entire languages.
    • Unofficial Varieties: Slangs and dialects (Singlish, Chinglish) challenge standardization.
    • Power: English is used as a language of power in media, military, economics, and religion, creating potential for linguistic imperialism.

    Accommodation Theory

    • By Howard Giles, 1997
    • Describes speakers adjusting their style of speech and language use to align with their conversational partners.
    • Aims to enhance mutual understanding during interactions.

    Interlanguage

    • Language produced by second or foreign language learners who are still learning.
    • Often includes errors as they are in the process of mastering the language.

    Fragmentation

    • The process whereby a language or dialect diverges into distinct varieties.
    • Driven by geographical, social, or political factors.
    • Can lead to a reduced mutual intelligibility between speakers of different varieties.

    Standard English

    • A recognized and accepted form of English used as a benchmark for comparison.
    • Originated in the UK, particularly within the Oxford, Cambridge, London triangle, historically centers of power and influence.

    Dialect

    • A specific form of language characteristic of a particular region or social group.

    Variety

    • A broader term encompassing any specific form of a language, including dialects.
    • Refers to the way language is used across different contexts or groups of people

    Received Pronunciation

    • An accent of Standard British English often associated with educated speakers in the UK.
    • Historically considered a prestigious accent used in formal settings.
    • Prestige: The level of respect or admiration assigned to a language or dialect within a society, influencing language choice and usage.

    New Englishes

    • Regional and non-regional varieties of English developed in regions where English is not the native language.
    • Features distinct lexis, pronunciation, and syntax.
    • Emerged through government administration, education, and media (e.g., Singaporean English)

    Fragmentation (in New Englishes)

    • The process of language divergence into distinct varieties over time.
    • Caused by social, political, geographical factors.
    • Often results in reduced mutual intelligibility for speakers of different varieties.
    • Contributing Factors:
      • Development of cultural identities within isolated communities
      • Physical distance between groups leading to linguistic isolation
      • Urbanization or migration creating new linguistic communities
      • Colonization promoting a dominant language over local dialects.

    Mutually Intelligible / Unintelligible

    • Languages that speakers can understand without prior study are mutually intelligible.
    • Languages that speakers cannot understand due to significant differences are mutually unintelligible.

    Creole

    • A fully developed language emerging from the mixing of two or more languages.
    • Typically formed in contexts where speakers need to communicate despite different native languages.

    Pidgin

    • A simplified form of speech for communication between speakers of different languages.
    • Usually lacks native speakers, characterized by limited vocabulary and simplified grammar.

    Dialect Mixing

    • The blending of features from different dialects or languages, resulting in new hybrid forms of speech.

    Great American Paradox

    • Though English is a dominant global language, there's a strong sense of regional identity and diversity within the US.
    • American English is widely adopted internationally, yet rich in local variations.

    The Golden Ages of Dictionaries

    • Periods marked by the publication of influential dictionaries, contributing to standardization in the English language.

    Linguistic Imperialism

    • By Robert Phillipson
    • The imposition of one language (often associated with power) onto speakers of another (minority) language.
    • Arguments:
      • A dominant language can gain control of political, economic, and social institutions within a country.
      • The decline of a language can lead to cultural impoverishment.
      • Global English teaching programs (TESOL) contribute to linguistic imperialism.

    Language Death

    • The situation where a language or dialect has no remaining native speakers.

    Types of Language Death

    • Bottom-to-Top Death: Decline starts with less proficient speakers switching to a dominant language, eventually progressing to fluent users.
    • Radical Language Death: Complete and immediate loss due to colonization or genocide.
    • Gradual Language Death: Slow decrease in speakers as younger generations switch to a dominant language.
    • Sudden Language Death: Abrupt loss caused by catastrophic events (e.g., natural disasters).

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    Unit 9.1 The Status of English PDF

    Description

    Explore Braj Kachru's influential model that categorizes the use of English around the world. This quiz covers the three circles: Inner, Outer, and Expanding, and their significance in global communication. Test your understanding of global language criteria and the role of English in different contexts.

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