The dynamics of English in a multilingual Europe
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Antje Wilton
Abstract
Throughout European history, multilingualism has coexisted with one or more linguae francae. Today’s European lingua franca is English, and it, too, functions within a thoroughly multilingual context. This introduction to the volume English in Europe Today illuminates some of the sociocultural and educational contexts in which English and its manifestations in the European linguistic landscape play a shaping role. The contributions to the volume are set within these varied contexts. Together they bear witness to the challenging but enriching dynamics that are part and parcel of the use of English in multilingual Europe today.
Abstract
Throughout European history, multilingualism has coexisted with one or more linguae francae. Today’s European lingua franca is English, and it, too, functions within a thoroughly multilingual context. This introduction to the volume English in Europe Today illuminates some of the sociocultural and educational contexts in which English and its manifestations in the European linguistic landscape play a shaping role. The contributions to the volume are set within these varied contexts. Together they bear witness to the challenging but enriching dynamics that are part and parcel of the use of English in multilingual Europe today.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors ix
- Acknowledgement xi
- The dynamics of English in a multilingual Europe 1
- The increasing role of English in Basque education 15
- English language testing 31
- When comprehension is crucial 51
- English as a lingua franca and the Standard English misunderstanding 71
- The early acquisition of English as a second language 95
- “The more languages, the more English?” 113
- Conceptualizing ‘English’ for a multilingual Europe 133
- English as a foreign language 147
- Index 167
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors ix
- Acknowledgement xi
- The dynamics of English in a multilingual Europe 1
- The increasing role of English in Basque education 15
- English language testing 31
- When comprehension is crucial 51
- English as a lingua franca and the Standard English misunderstanding 71
- The early acquisition of English as a second language 95
- “The more languages, the more English?” 113
- Conceptualizing ‘English’ for a multilingual Europe 133
- English as a foreign language 147
- Index 167
