American English and Higher Education in Sweden

Abstract

In the post-war period English has become the most sought after second language among Swedish educators and students. After German fell from grace, English became the fashionable mode of communication, not only as a written language, but also as a spoken medium. England, with its charm, cozy pub-life, and high educational standard, has always been admired in the Nordic countries. One could say that the British Isles are close to the Scandinavian heart. For those Swedish academics educated in the 1950s and 1960s in the fields of English Literature and Linguistics, there was never any doubt that British English was the standard. The hyperlect was modified, so that the acrolect, or unmarked Received Pronunciation (most prevalent in the south-east of England), became the order of the day for English language teachers in Swedish schools, colleges, and universities.' Standard British English (BrE) is, to my ear, similar to unmarked RP, but the label encompasses a more general definition of the English language as it is spoken in the UK. Because language learning is closely related to the assimilation of culture, the implications of learning BrE encompass not only grammatical and pronunciation standards, as well as a vocabulary, but also a distinctly British interpretation of the world, the British customs and norms. Thus, it can be said that in an effort to learn BrE, Swedish scholars attempt to imitate a distinctly British demeanor. Quite naturally, features of the Swedish language and culture are also present. Furthermore, the