Naureen Mumtaz

70120920

MID TERM EXAM

WORLD ENGLISHES

Q. English is playing a central role in empowering the subjugated and marginalized,

and eroding the division between the 'haves' and have nots'. Justify or refute.

Language is said to be the dress of the thought, as Dr Sameul put it. Communication has

changed into a vibrant aspect of our lives. English is the universal language for far more than

300 million users worldwide in today's globalized world. Every country on the outskirts of

the world has its own community, with people who speak a variety of languages. English still

enjoys the status of the most privileged language or the common language across the globe.

The sporadic diversity of English language has resulted into being termed as "lingua Franca".

One of the reasons is it being a common influence factor that triggers social status

regeneration all over the world. Colonial Expansion of the English language resulted in

creating divisions of privileged or non-privileged or superior generations or users of English

language.

English became the language of trade done globally. It became the language of tourism,

International Relations, multinational Industries, Entertainment, Media, internet, News

agencies.

It is important for us to cultivate friendly relationships with our coworkers as well as to

enhance our understanding of how to write letters, papers, and e-mail. Complying with a

company's specifications is unavoidable.

 Naureen Mumtaz
70120920

Kachru’s Model of concentric circles helps us differentiate between the role of English in

different parts of the world. English used in the inner circle (US, UK, Australia, Newzealand)

is considered to be the standard of English Language, Whereas the outer circle which is said

to be colonized or institutionalized by the British imperialism speak English as Second

Language Learners (India, Pkistan, Bangladesh, Ghana, Nigeria, Africa etc). However the

expanding circle (Japan, Korea Saudi Arabia etc) learn English as a foreign Language.

Therefore a marked division has been created through English.

After the British rule in the sub-continent, people who were able to speak English were

associated with Elite class. It became the Language of the most privileged class by the time

Pakistan and India were created as separate countries. Globally English gained importance in

1990 with the advancement in technology, higher employability rates because of English.

Politically and socio-economically English gained recognition as Lingua Franca.

I agree with the demarcation of ‘Have’ and ‘Have Nots’ created globally. People who speak

English with more native like accents are considered to be rich, elite and respectable citizens.

Urdu Medium and English Medium schools in Pakistan are the clear example of the linguistic

hegemony of English.

However English Language cannot determine the skill or the competency of an Individual, it

became the tool to judge one’s intelligence level or aptitude. All the important entrance tests

or exams are English based. All the fields be it teaching, Media, Banking, Engineering,

Medical etc English is the medium of instruction as well as professional performance.

Similar is the case in India and Bangladesh, Africa etc. Colonialism irrevocably altered the

world's political geography.