Quotative like in the Englishes of the Outer and Expanding Circles

Abstract

AbstractThe study aims at revising the major dichotomy between the Outer and Expanding Circles respectively. Taking the traditional sociolinguistic model of world Englishes as a starting point of discussion, I discuss the argument that classical macrosociolinguistic descriptions of linguistic varieties are helpful accounts that have also proven to be useful heuristic devices in the study of global variation as it is attested in English. Taking the linguistic variable ‘quotatives’ for illustration, I show that the patterns of use of innovative be like are uniform in the speech of young adults with elevated levels of exposure to mass media products and apply across the Outer and Expanding Circle English board. I conclude that the careful study of users’ individual profiles in a given sociolinguistic environment also holds the key to a nuanced understanding of the major sociolinguistic and sociocognitive determinants underlying the emergence of the new forms of English.