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English in Mauritius
Author(s) -
FOLEY JOSEPH
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
world englishes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.6
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1467-971X
pISSN - 0883-2919
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-971x.1995.tb00350.x
Subject(s) - government (linguistics) , set (abstract data type) , linguistics , repetition (rhetorical device) , order (exchange) , sociology , position (finance) , language transfer , creole language , language policy , language assessment , sociology of language , comprehension approach , language education , computer science , pedagogy , economics , philosophy , finance , programming language
This paper gives an overview of the position of English in the island of Mauritius, where the dominant language of the home is a French‐based Creole but the language of government, judiciary and schooling is English. Language teaching in Mauritius has been traditionally structuralist. That is to say the pedagogical approach sees language systems consisting of a finite set of ‘patterns’ which act as models; there is a belief that repetition and practice result in the formation of accurate language habits and that ‘the basics’ must be taught before learners are encouraged to communicate their own thoughts and ideas. Only more recently has there seemed to be a need to place language (in particular English) in a meaningful setting where it can have a functional role in society. This means seeing language as part of the overall development of the human resources available in order to respond to the demands of the economy and society as a whole.