Plurality and world Englishes: The social realities of language use

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn spite of decades of scholarship on plurality and in particular Englishes, discussion in some academic quarters in recent years has questioned this fundamental aspect of language/English use, with some coming to view plurality (of Englishes) in fact as marginalizing and segregating (cf. Bruthiaux 2003; Pennycook 2003, 2008; Saraceni 2010; Ur 2010). In light of now nearly four decades of scholarship on world Englishes (WE), by Yamuna Kachru as well as innumerable other scholars, this paper revisits the core concepts that form the foundation for plurality and consequently WE, concepts that must be addressed if plurality (of Englishes) is to be challenged. The discussion revisits the numerous foundational concepts in (socio)linguistics for WE, and gives particular consideration to the notion of the speech community in light of the higher degree of mobility and virtual interaction in the contemporary era.