Englishes
Global tongue versions
Englishes is the plural of English when referring to distinct varieties of the language.
Linguists use the term to acknowledge that English exists in many legitimate forms worldwide—Indian English, Nigerian English, Singaporean English—each with its own vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation patterns: World Englishes scholarship examines how the language adapts to local contexts.
Singapore's hybrid vernacular
- SpanglishHybrid of two languages
- HinglishHindi-English code-switching
- ChinglishChinese-influenced English errors
- creolesNativized mixed tongues
pidgins · dialects · vernaculars · localizations · indigenization
Implementing uniform technical specifications
- variationChange from a norm
- registersRecords officially
- code-switchingAlternating between linguistic varieties
- loanwordsAdopted foreign vocabulary
phonology · syntax · lexicon · grammar · pronunciation · accent · orthography · vocabulary
Foreign language pedagogy field
- EFLNon-native language instruction
- ESLLanguage instruction abbreviation
- descriptivismDocumenting actual language use
- prescriptivismEnforcing linguistic correctness
sociolinguistics · dialectology · interlanguage · intelligibility · accommodation
Enduring impact of occupation
- postcolonialAfter foreign rule ends
- lingua francaShared tongue between peoples
- globalizationWorldwide economic and cultural integration
- identityWho someone is
prestige · native speakers · non-native speakers · outer circle · inner circle · multilingualism · diglossia · hegemony
Singlish
Singapore's hybrid vernacular
- SpanglishHybrid of two languages
- HinglishHindi-English code-switching
- ChinglishChinese-influenced English errors
creoles · pidgins · dialects · vernaculars · localizations · indigenization
standardization
Implementing uniform technical specifications
- variationChange from a norm
- registersRecords officially
- code-switchingAlternating between linguistic varieties
loanwords · phonology · syntax · lexicon · grammar · pronunciation · accent · orthography · vocabulary · idioms
TESOL
Foreign language pedagogy field
- EFLNon-native language instruction
- ESLLanguage instruction abbreviation
- descriptivismDocumenting actual language use
prescriptivism · sociolinguistics · dialectology · interlanguage · intelligibility · accommodation
colonial legacy
Enduring impact of occupation
- postcolonialAfter foreign rule ends
- lingua francaShared tongue between peoples
- globalizationWorldwide economic and cultural integration
identity · prestige · native speakers · non-native speakers · outer circle · inner circle · multilingualism · diglossia · hegemony · ownership
EnglishesStandard English
Codified mainstream dialect
King's English · proper English · BBC English · standard language · global English
- plain EnglishUnadorned, accessible wording
- broken EnglishImperfect foreign language use
- English gardensFormal planted grounds
- English muffinFlat, fork-split breakfast bread
- English hornAlto-range double-reed woodwind
- English roseFair British maiden