Global English

The Linguist David Graddol (2006) stated that, for the first time in human society, a single language is used as the world's connecting language.¹ We're sure it won't take too many guesses to figure out which language - that's right, it's English. English has become the world's leading lingua franca, for reasons we'll cover shortly, and is now spoken, taught, read, and written worldwide; but which variety of English is used? A simple answer to a not-so-simple question could be "Global English."

Global English Meaning

You may have already figured out that Global English is a variety of English.

It's best to think of English as a plural language (Englishes), i.e., different varieties of English are spoken in different locations around the world. Whereas varieties such as British English and American English can be associated with a particular place, Global English is spoken, you guessed it, globally.

Let's look at a succinct definition of Global English:

It's important to note that there is no set definition, rules, or even term for Global English. Throughout your studies, you'll likely encounter several synonyms such as International English, World English, English as a Lingua Franca, and more.

Before we go any further, let's address the term "Global Englishes." Whereas "Global English" describes a simplified variety of English, "Global Englishes" is an umbrella term introduced by Jenkins (2014)² and Galloway & Rose (2015)³ as a way of encompassing everything to do with English as a global language.

That's not to say they were the first to consider the use of English as a global language - far from it - and much of what we know today about the use of English worldwide stems from the work on World Englishes by the Indian linguist Bajru Kachru (1985)⁴. That brings us nicely to our next section: the history of Global English.

The History of Global English

You're probably aware by now that the English language has undergone some significant changes throughout its lifespan. So far, we've seen Old English, Middle English, and Modern English, and several linguists (such as Kachru and Graddol) have suggested that we're entering a fourth wave - Global English.

The global spread of English began in the 14th century due to British settlements and the transatlantic slave trade. From the 14th to 18th century, English was taken to what Kachru (1985)⁴ refers to as the inner circle, which comprises North America, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

British colonial expansion in the 19th century saw English continuing to spread to almost a quarter of the world, to places such as India, Malaysia, Nigeria, Kenya, and Egypt - to name only a few. Kachru called these countries the outer circle.

From the 20th century onwards, English has continued to spread around the world due to factors such as the technological revolution, globalization, the internet, and the cultural dominance of the United States and the United Kingdom. Kachru named these remaining countries the expanding circle.

Today, there are thousands of different varieties and dialects of English worldwide.

Globish

In the 1990s, a French linguist named Jean-Paul Nerrière noticed how Japanese and Korean speakers at a business conference communicated with each other more effectively in English compared to when they were talking to native English speakers. He surmised this was because they were both speaking a simplified variety of English rather than one interlocutor speaking as a native.

By 2004, Nerrière had come up with the concept of Globish, a portmanteau word combining global with English, as a way of explaining, documenting, and legitimizing the simplified use of English on an international level⁵. Today, Globish isn't a term used that often, but the concept has arguably been and remains influential in the field of Global English and Global Englishes.

Although not everyone agrees with the concept of Global English, some researchers have argued it is simply 'incorrect English' (we'll cover this more shortly); there are now several academic journals, corpora, and even English language textbooks all based on Global English.

Features of Global English

As we mentioned, there are no set-in-stone rules for global English; however, there are a few common features.

• Removal of idioms and colloquialisms - These are usually geographically or culturally specific and untranslatable. For example, the idiom "the apple of my eye" will likely be confusing to a non-native English speaker.

• Removal of phrasal verbs - Phrasal verbs typically comprise a verb and a preposition, such as put up and take off. Phrasal verbs can be difficult for non-native English speakers for two reasons. Firstly, the meaning of the phrase is typically different from the meaning of the individual words. Secondly, many phrasal verbs can hold multiple meanings, e.g., "The plane is ready to take off." compared to "She wanted to take off the jacket."

• Simple syntax - Global English favors a more consistent and more straightforward use of syntax, such as all sentences (when possible) following a Subject Verb Object structure.

• Active, not passive voice - Using the active voice can help keep the syntax of a sentence simple. For example, "He kicked the ball" compared to "The ball was kicked by him."

• Use of simple sentences - Global English favors simple or compound sentences instead of complex or compound-complex sentences.

• Be direct - Avoid using hedging language, such as "I don't suppose you would mind..."

• Be aware of different terminology - Some vocabulary words differ between different English varieties, e.g., petrol (British English) and gasoline (American English). Consider which term is likely to be more well-known.

The Importance of Global English

So, we know what Global English is and a little about its history, but why is it important? Arguably, one of the most essential aspects of language is the facilitation of successful communication, and that's exactly what Global English does: it helps us communicate on a global scale.

Recognizing the value of Global English is also impacting the teaching and learning of English. Native varieties of English, such as Standard British English and Standard American English, have historically been the 'goalposts' for language learners; however, this may no longer need to be the case.

Fig 1. Imagine you're in Japan. How would you find the bus station?

Pros and Cons of Global English

Although there is arguably an important place for Global English, it's not without its criticisms. So, let's take a look at some pros and cons.

Global English vs. Standard English

Whereas Global English is a simplified variety of English that can be used internationally, Standard English is a standardized form used in official settings, such as education, publishing, law, and business.

It is a common misconception that there is one Standard English used worldwide. Instead, each country that uses English in an official capacity will have a standardized form. For example, Standard British English, Standard American English, Standard Australian English, Standard Indian English, and so on.

Examples of Global English

Now we know all about Global English, let's take a look at some examples compared to some more native-English-sounding sentences.