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English in Southeast Asia: Pedagogical and policy implications
Author(s) -
KIRKPATRICK ANDY
Publication year - 2014
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/weng.12105
Subject(s) - english as a lingua franca , variety (cybernetics) , lingua franca , southeast asia , standard english , language policy , linguistics , world englishes , varieties of english , language contact , multilingualism , sociology , political science , pedagogy , computer science , ethnology , philosophy , artificial intelligence
ABSTRACT The roles of English within and between the many of the countries which make up Southeast Asia are increasing, and English is constantly being used and negotiated as a mutual means of communication by Asian multilinguals for whom English is an additional language. It is timely, therefore, to consider ways in which these Englishes have been developing, along with the roles English is currently playing. Areas worthy of investigation include the influence of language contact and the motivations for the presence of non‐standard forms in these new varieties of English. Given the recent research reviewed in this paper, the criteria by which the use of non‐standard forms are classified as characteristic of the particular variety need to be revised. The paper will conclude by considering whether the role of English as a lingua franca in the region has reached its zenith and whether regional language education policy is likely allow the languages of Asia to thrive.