Summary
Summary Kachru’s Circles
- Module
- Kachru’s Circles (9093)
- Institution
- OCR
A detailed analysis of Kachru’s Circles that covers all you need to know about it for your A Level Exams.
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
Content preview
Describe a model which explains how English has spreadthroughout the world. Evaluate the usefulness of this model in
explaining the different Englishes. (25 marks)
English is the global language of today, recognised as the international language of
business, media, politics, and popular culture, with its supremacy rooted in
colonialism, and the rise of the British Empire in the 17th and 18th centuries. This has
led to the subsequent rise of other world varieties of English in many post-colonial
countries, often with their distinctive linguistic features.
The Number of Mandarin Chinese speakers is greater than the number of English
speakers however English is the first language on every continent except South
America and 80% of the world's internet is in English as well.
Various models of world Englishes explain the relationship between English in the UK
and English elsewhere. According to Jenkins colonialism has destroyed ethnic
identities and there has been a loss of indigenous languages, however, it is possible to
revive these languages.
Kachru’s Circles illustrate different Englishes around the world by concentric circles
based on geographical regions. This model was important to sort different Englishes
into groups because all the different types of English were being lumped together and
newer varieties were being seen as deficient.
Kachru’s Concentric circles has native speakers in the centre, for example, UK, USA and
Canada. These are norm providing- the varieties by which others are measured. World
Englishes on the outer circle represent nations that use English as their second
language. Examples of such countries include Singapore, Ghana and India. Here the
countries’ own varieties develop.
All other recent developments of English as a Lingua Franca are located on the
expanding circle. In these countries, English is used to communicate with speakers of
other languages for either business, politics or education. They are considered to be
Norm Dependent- countries where English is utilized for practical purposes rather
than for cultural integration.
Albeit, the issue is that it can suggest in-group privilege in being in the “inner circle,”
compared to those on the outskirts to be the furthest away from the “real thing.” This
raises the question if native speakers really are at the heart of the language from which
everything else is derived? There are several changes and modifications in English
outside the UK but speakers have no control over it. Furthermore, how can it
represent diversity within the circles?
Kachru has revised his original model by breaking the circles apart and having them as
overlapping rings. He has listed specific countries to avoid vagueness, unlike the first
model, however, these lists can change so the model is relative to time. The overlaps
portray how the circles influence each other and therefore how the different varieties
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller Ayma24. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £5.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
52510 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy revision notes and other study material for 14 years now