The document discusses the evolution and current state of the English language as a global lingua franca. It notes that English has developed rapidly since colonial times and is now spoken in many varied dialects worldwide. The author argues that communicability and audience should determine which English standard is used, rather than imposing one version. The key is being able to code-switch between informal and formal, local and global varieties of English depending on the communicative situation.

1. viewpoint British Council
Divided by a
Common Language?
Stephen Jenner, Director of the British Council Professional Development Centre in Singapore,
shares some reflections on the place of English in today’s world
G Stephen
eorge Bernard Shaw famously
said that England and America
jenner
were two countries ‘divided by a
common language’. Jump a century ahead
to an exchange on Facebook I read recently:
“Went to see Contagion and woke up
this morning with a sore throat and sore
head! Was it contagious?” Director – British Council Professional
“haha..hp not cz v saw contagion Development Centre, Singapore
yesterday bt so far v r ok 2day!”
One of the speakers above is a native
speaker, but which strain of English is former coloniser rather than the new this would have on the wide range of
the other speaker using? How did we get rulers to the north. Travel in North and communicative situations in the company.
to this? Things have become a lot more South India today and you will see widely The article concludes:
complicated since Shaw’s time. differing levels of English fluency. “We are all capable of code-switching,
Global English has developed rapidly Mr Lee’s prediction at the launch of the not only among languages but between
since the days of colonialism, when the English Language Institute of Singapore playful and sober, casual and formal,
Queen’s English ruled the world as the last month, that American English will be hyperlocal and widely accessible. The more
Queen’s navy ruled the seas. At de- ‘most likely to prevail’, might have adept we are at that, the more accurately,
colonialism, the British left many of their bothered George Bernard Shaw, but it does authentically and productively we will be
institutions in ‘host’ countries, including get to the heart of the question; which able to communicate - and to think - in a
their language. This language dividend standard of English do we adopt in complex, interconnected world.”
meant more countries could now do today’s globalised world? Here I would We do not need to be divided by our
business with each other directly, but it also offer two criteria; communicability and common language. But we do not need to
meant a gradual transfer of ownership, as audience. In the Facebook excerpt above I speak only one version of it either.
local dialects of the language developed. understand the response, although I do not
So we entered the period of Englishes. recognise the language as my own. The + The author welcomes comments on this article,
Not all former colonies took the same response achieves its purpose (it by email to stephen.jenner@britishcouncil.org.sg,
language path. Lee Kuan Yew’s communicates meaning) and is also or on Twitter @sdjenner.
promotion of English as the first, ‘Master’ appropriate for the context. It would + At the British Council Professional
language of Singapore, gave the new certainly not be appropriate if the Development Centre we offer a range of soft
nation a huge competitive advantage it audience were a boardroom of executives. skills and English training for professionals.
still enjoys today. In India, Nehru’s new So, standard is a moveable feast. We work with some of the biggest Singapore
government declared Hindi the National A recent Harvard Business Review companies and public sector bodies and we
language with English an Associate article describes how the imposition of train over 8,000 professionals a year.
National language, and regional languages English as the first language in a German + British Council Professional Development Centre
in third place. The ‘tri- language’ policy company actually disempowered 480 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh, 09-01 HDB Hub East Wing
had far-reaching consequences, as south employees from using English, because + Tel: 63972022
Indian states chose the language of the not enough thought went into the impact + Web: www.britishcouncil.org.sg/corporate-training
issue 11.11 hrmasia.com 67