Conceptualizing ‘English’ for a multilingual Europe
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Barbara Seidlhofer
Abstract
The growing importance of English in multilingual Europe poses a dilemma: a common language is important for communal integration, but at the same time it is perceived as threatening European multilingualism. Faced with this quandary, it is crucial how ‘English’ is conceptualized. It is not possible to resolve the dilemma while upholding traditional concepts of European languages essentially mapped onto nation states. Therefore this paper argues for the need to conceptualize English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) that is not subject to established native-speaker norms but can be, and is, appropriated by all its users. Only such conceptualization can result in ELF not competing with the various national languages but rather complementing them as a valuable part of Europeans’ multilingual repertoire.
Abstract
The growing importance of English in multilingual Europe poses a dilemma: a common language is important for communal integration, but at the same time it is perceived as threatening European multilingualism. Faced with this quandary, it is crucial how ‘English’ is conceptualized. It is not possible to resolve the dilemma while upholding traditional concepts of European languages essentially mapped onto nation states. Therefore this paper argues for the need to conceptualize English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) that is not subject to established native-speaker norms but can be, and is, appropriated by all its users. Only such conceptualization can result in ELF not competing with the various national languages but rather complementing them as a valuable part of Europeans’ multilingual repertoire.
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
