AS4 ENG 103

LESSON 3
Plurality of the English Language

A. LINGUISTIC UNIVERSALS and UNIVERSAL GRAMMAR

LINGUISTIC  This refers to the linguistic

UNIVERSALS properties common to all
languages
 It is a pattern that occurs
systematically across natural
languages, potentially true to all of
them.
 In simpler terms, this refers to the
properties shared by all languages.
 Two types: absolute and
statistical universals.
 ABSOLUTE UNIVERSAL – refers
to the properties found in all
languages (all languages have
vowels and consonants)
 STATISTICAL UNVERSAL –
reflects important trends that are
found in a predominant part of the
languages of the world, but not
necessarily in all.
UNIVERSAL  a term which originated from Noam
GRAMMAR Chomsky
 this is a theory in linguistics which
suggests that the ability to learn
grammar is built into the human
brain from birth regardless of
language.
 Chomsky believed that humans
are born with an innate ability to
learn languages. According to

Prepared by: Kharylle Schyaneid T. Kenoh, LPT, M.A.Ed

 Chomsky’s theory, the basic
structures of language are already
encoded in the human brain at
birth.

B. ENGLISH vs ENGLISHES

ENGLISH  Refers to the language itself

ENGLISHES  Are the varieties of English
STANDARD  the English with respect to
ENGLISH spelling, grammar, pronunciation,
and vocabulary is substantially
uniform though not devoid of
regional differences
 well established by usage in the
formal and informal speech and
writing of the educated, and that is
widely recognized as acceptable
wherever English is spoken and
understood
WORLD ENGLISHES  The variations of Englishes around
the world which may
include American
English, Australian English, Babu
English, Banglish, British
English, Canadian
English, Caribbean
English, Chicano English, Chinese
English, Denglish
(Denglisch), Euro-English, Hinglis
h, Indian English, Irish English,
Japanese English, New Zealand
English, Nigerian English,
Philippine English, Scottish

Prepared by: Kharylle Schyaneid T. Kenoh, LPT, M.A.Ed

 English, Singapore English, South
African English, Spanglish,
Taglish, Welsh English, West
African Pidgin English,
and Zimbabwean English.

C. COMMON LANGUAGE VS MULTILINGUALISM

COMMON  According to Sebba (1997) a

LANGUAGE language that is widely used over a
relatively large geographical area
as a language of wider
communication, it is known as
a lingua franca—a common
language but one which is native
only to some of its speakers. The
term 'lingua franca' itself is an
extension of the use of the name of
the original 'Lingua Franca,' a
Medieval trading pidgin used in the
Mediterranean region.
 In the case of English, Nelson and
Arts (1997) pointed out that the he
status of English is such that it has
been adopted as the world's lingua
franca for communication in
Olympic sport, international trade,
and air-traffic control. Unlike any
other language, past or present,
English has spread to all five
continents and has become a truly
global language
MULTILINGUALISM  Refers to the ability of an
individual speaker or a
community of speakers to

Prepared by: Kharylle Schyaneid T. Kenoh, LPT, M.A.Ed

 communicate effectively in three
or more languages.

D. BRAJ KACHRU’S CONCENTRIC CIRCLE (1985)

- Braj Kachru’s concentric circle shows a diagram composed

of circles within a huge circle which illustrates English as a
global language.

 The inner circle is comprised of those countries who are considered

the 'traditional bases' of English, such as the U.K., U.S.A, Australia,
New Zealand, Ireland and anglophone Canada.
- English in these countries are classed as a 'first' language.
- Kachru labels the inner circle countries as 'norm-
providing' - the norms of the English language are
produced there.
 The outer circle is comprised of countries where English is not
spoken natively but is still maintained as an important language for
communication (e.g. as an official 'second' language or as the
nation's official language for business and commerce) largely due to
historical reasons.
- These countries include: India, Nigeria, the Philippines,
Bangladesh, Pakistan, Malaysia, Tanzania, Kenya, non-
anglophone South Africa and Canada.
Prepared by: Kharylle Schyaneid T. Kenoh, LPT, M.A.Ed
 - Kachru labels these countries as 'norm-developing' - the
norms produced by the inner circle are further developed
and reproduced in the outer circle.

 The expanding circle includes much of the rest of the world's

population -  countries that do not hold historical or governmental
importance towards English, but class it as a foreign language or
lingua franca.
- Main examples of such countries include: most of Europe,
China, Russia, Japan, Korea, Egypt and Indonesia.
- These countries are 'norm-dependent' - they fully depend on
the norms originally produced by the native speakers of the
inner circle.
- They generally do not develop or reproduce 'Englishes'. 

Prepared by: Kharylle Schyaneid T. Kenoh, LPT, M.A.Ed