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Is it world or international or global English, and does it matter?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 July 2004

TOM McARTHUR
TOM McARTHUR
Affiliation:
Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Linguists, London.
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Abstract

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This review explores the histories and meanings of, and similarities and contrasts among, three labels for English at large: world English, international English, and global English, first as phrases containing the words world, international, and global, then in terms of their history and use, and how a range of dictionaries has dealt (or failed to deal) with them. The first has been used to mean both standard English and all English; the second refers to the multinational use of English (notably in language teaching); and the third both implies vast use and links the language (often negatively) with socio-economic globalization. Since all three are likely to go on being used, they may need to be handled with care.

Type
Original Article
Information
English Today , Volume 20 , Issue 3 , July 2004 , pp. 3 - 15
Copyright
© 2004 Cambridge University Press