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Successful participants will: (1) gain greater familiarity with a number of World Englishes, their chief linguistic features and the relevance of these to issues of identity, intelligibility and effective oral and written communication; (2) develop increased awareness of the role of these issues within intercultural communication and English language teaching; (3) be able to identify promising research areas within the domains of this course, and suggest ways of undertaking such work, with specific reference to their Master’s programmes.
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The many varieties of English worldwide include not only native varieties, but also many nativised or non-native Englishes. Using appropriate sociolinguistic methodology and terminology, this course will survey a selection of these World Englishes, analysing differences in the prestige each has in different multilingual and/or multicultural settings. In addition, the question will be raised to what extent these Englishes are embedded in their particular cultures. Is it true, as Oscar Wilde (and others) have claimed, that England and America are "divided by a common language"?
Faced with such an abundance of accents, millions of non-native users of English have to decide if they should adopt any particular one, or continue to use their own non-native English. There is perhaps another option -- some kind of "international English" or English as a Lingua Franca. Choices of this sort will inevitably be affected by factors such as effective communication, instrumental or integrative motivation, identity and cultural orientation, social and geo-political questions and, of course, down-to-earth practical considerations. Is it actually possible to adopt a neutral version of English without taking on the baggage of a particular culture?
Early exit option for international exchange students
Students who are required to return to their home university by the end of December, are allowed to complete the course by 'distance learning' (extra assignments, papers etc) in the month of January, receiving 5 ECTS for the course. Students must always make individual arrangements with the course coordinator before the start of the course.
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