crystal

What does Crystal argue about why English became a global language?

• Historical power

• Expansion of British empire spread English geographically

How did America reinforce its global status?

• Through media and technology

• A language becomes global when its associated with power structures

• American economic, political and cultural dominance

What’s an example of Americanisms spreading?

• Neologisms like ‘tiktoker’ ‘selfie’

• Reflects semantic change and global diffusion

Why does this theory say that English is not superior?

• English is dominant

• Dominance is shaped by power, whereas superiority is a value judgement that cannot be objectively applied to language.

Evaluation for crystal’s power explanation

• Strong in explaining why English spread

• Less effective at explaining how English changes locally

How does crystal link global English to media and technology?

• Accelerates the spread of English

• Reinforce English as the dominant medium of communication worldwide

What are examples that the global media and digital communication is accelerating the spread of English?

• Discourse markers, abbreviations

• e.g. LOL

• Neologisms spreading globally

Evaluation for Crystals media explanation

• Explains rapid modern speed

• Doesn’t account for local resistance or adaptation

What does Crystal argue about standard English globally?

• Functions as global norms in formal domains (education,politics,business)

• Giving it overt prestige