Chapter 5- Week 14

I thought that chapter Five of McKay & Bokhorts-Heng was very stimulating. This chapter dealt with the linguistic diversity of present-day English use and the debate regarding the teaching of standard English and weather or not there should be a standard way of English language. The beginning of the chapter started off by discussing language variation and how macroaquisition has resulted in language hybridization. “These processes of hybridization have resulted in not just the development of different varieties of Standard English between countries, but also varieties of English within countries, (McKay 1125). Three different models were given to explain the various forms of language in variation. Bickerton’s model was the first defined, followed by the diglossic model, and finally the expanding triangles model. All of these models had the intent to describe a pluricentric view of English. Their purpose is to show that there should not just be one Standard form of English against which all others are measured.

     The chapter also touched on why it is important to call of these variations of English, “World Englishes” rather than “New Englishes.” Reason being is because calling variations of English “New Englishes” in comparison to “Old Englishes” can give way to unintentionally giving distinctions between power. The term “Word Englishes” is better because it tries to encompass all languages as equal without any of them being the specific reference point.

     “Nonnative English speakers created new cultural-sensitive and socially appropriate meanings-expressions of the bilinguals creativity-by altering and manipulating the structure and functions of English it its new ecology. As a result, English underwent a process of acculturation,” (128). This process of acculturations brought upon variations in pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary/idiom, and discourse style. There were issues with the idea of variations of English. Some people were against it because they believed that it would lead to a lack of intelligibility among speakers. Randolph Quirk was against the idea of variations of an English language and said that it could be educationally damaging. Braj Kachru, on the other hand didn’t believe that variation would allow a lack of intelligibility, rather would promote an educated variety of English in which people that speak various varieties of English would be able to understand each other.

     Overall I think that it is very important to take all forms and variations of language into account. I do not think that there is or will be a specific standard English that people from all parts of the world will use. I really liked the following quote because ultimately it is true. It states, “Acknowledging language variation, understanding the processes of language variation, and accepting a pluralistic model of English language norms are thus key to effective EIL pedagogy,” (McKAy146). As a future teacher, I think that it is essential to be respectful to all students, regardless of how well or different their English is.  I agree that there should be a pluralistic model of English norms. Furthermore, I agree with Kachru and think that allowing a variety of linguistic norms would lead to an educated variety of English that would be intelligible across the many varieties of English.