English Language and Its Regional Variations

English language and its regional variations

A language isn’t the same in every place where it is used. There are many factors that make it contrast with the standard form. The central subject of this essay is thus the regional variation of the English language more precisely in the Asian Continent that is related to the chapter of Crystal (2002: 276 – 280). The English spoken in India will be stressed due to its specific characteristics and importance.
Walsh (2001), more than 10 years ago, already said that “Speakers of minority languages cannot afford to be against learning the dominant language surrounding them (…) as this language is essential for communication with their neighbours”.
A language is not limited to just one culture. A very good example of that is the English Language all around the world. The English language has been leading the sphere, even if it is only the 3rd most spoken language. The two in the front “win” because of its large number population, but curiously, those two countries, China and India are two of the major nations that use English as a second language or lingua franca.
In East and Southeast Asia, English has a main role, especially in India. In this region as Andy Kirkpatrick (2000) states “English is no longer some colonial language. It is the means [by which] we in Asia communicate with the world and one another.” That necessity of a communication language instigated several questions, as Crystal (2002: 279) refers. Which variety of English should be used? Which one is better or more suitable? Most of the people that are learning English in that part of the globe do it with the purpose to communicate generally with non-native speakers of English, for example, in business with neighbours, instead of only have the purpose to talk with native speakers. That fact invokes a necessity of a new English variety, a regional variety that is adapted to each cultural norm.
There’s no urgency on learning things as vocabulary related to Oxford or London. The local people have their own cultural values that they don’t want to lose when they use a lingua franca. People want to conserve their identity by having their own version of the English language. Asian writers, poets, novelists have the same fear of losing identity. In fact, this is a huge problem for them, as they, of course, have the will of have a big audience but also don’t want to use a “foreign” language. They could write in their mother language but how could it reach a large-scale audience? Cultivate a regional variation of the English language that could be understood all over the world and that could also recognise their culture, seems to be a good answer for all the questions posed.
Changes are inevitable in this case. For example, in India, English is the second language of the country. The number of speakers is massive what turns it normal that grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation of the regional varieties of English language diverge. In pronunciation, there are many differences because of the different rhythm of the native language. In grammar, there are even more modifications, such as the use of the “progressive” forms of verbs like have, know, think or understand; the plural of collective nouns; the variation of word order and the tense usage, etc.

References: * Crystal, D. (2002) The English Language (2nd edition). London: Penguin. * Kirkpatrick, Andy (2000) “English as an Asian language”. The Guardian, 23. 11. 2000. http://gu.com/p/xhdhh _Accessed 28.11.2012. * McArthur, Tom (2002). “English as an Asian Language” Vol. 33 No. 2. http://www.accu.or.jp/appreb/09/pdf33-2/33-2P003-004.pdf_Accessed 9.12.2012.

References: * Crystal, D. (2002) The English Language (2nd edition). London: Penguin. * Kirkpatrick, Andy (2000) “English as an Asian language”. The Guardian, 23. 11. 2000. http://gu.com/p/xhdhh _Accessed 28.11.2012. * McArthur, Tom (2002). “English as an Asian Language” Vol. 33 No. 2. http://www.accu.or.jp/appreb/09/pdf33-2/33-2P003-004.pdf_Accessed 9.12.2012.