English as a lingua franca

The English language has, developed with the emergence of a British Empire by colonialism in the 17th century to the imperialism of the 19th century to a major international lingua franca. This significance remained the English even after the disintegration of the British Empire received since developed an English-speaking former colony, the United States to the global political superpower in the 20th century.

In some formerly colonized countries, English has the status of a lingua franca in some even an official language. At the beginning of the 21st century English can be viewed as the most important world language: English Worldwide is an important foreign language in school education; in world politics, the global economy and in many sciences, especially the natural sciences, English is the international language par excellence, " Simplified English " language is standard for maintenance documentation in the aviation and aerospace industry.

Scientific Exploration of ELF

In linguistics is sometimes made ​​between

  • " English in the Inner Circle " ( = English in these countries than original language rooted )
  • " English in the Outer Circle " ( = English in these countries become relatively young to a ( co- ) official language )
  • " English in the Expanding Circle" ( = English plays in these countries play an important role as a foreign language ).

The scientific study of English as a lingua franca (ELF ) in the sense of English in the Expanding Circle is relatively young. With it, about Jennifer Jenkins, Barbara Seidlhofer, Christiane Meierkord and Joachim Grzega have dealt.

ELF and English lessons

Different models of " simplified English " for the ELF lessons have been proposed for international communication.

  • That of Charles Kay Ogden (and later Ian Richards ) developed in the 1930s Basic English, whose renewed funding has recently prescribed Bill Templer
  • Developed by van Ek and Alexander Threshold Level English
  • Developed by Jean -Paul Nerrière Globish
  • The Basic Global English, developed by Joachim Grzega
Simplified Technical English Globish (Nerriere)
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