Cambridge English A Terminology #10

Lingua franca

A common form of communication which is used over and above local languages or dialects in order to allow communication between groups of people who speak different languages. English is a [this term] in many countries, as well as internationally.

Multilingualism

The ability of a speaker or community to use more than one language

Concentric Circles Model

A theoretical model that visualizes that spread of English in terms of three [this term]. Developed by Kachru in the 1980s.

Covert Prestige

High status gained through the use of nonstandard language and behavior

Overt Prestige

High status gained through the use of standard language and behaviorT

Prestige

The degree of respect accorded to a particular language or dialect in a language community. Standard forms often command overt [term] by reference to notions of correctness, while nonstandard forms can gain covert [term].

Dialect

A language variety specific to a particular geographical region, including lexical and grammatical features

Bidialectalism

The ability to use two different dialects of the same language

Creole

A natural language developed from a mixture of different languages, often as a development from a pidgin. [term] are stable, fairly complex, and are acquired as native languages by children.

Pidgin

A simplified mixture of languages, used to communicate between people who do not speak the same language. Over time, a [term] may develop into a creole.

Patois

A loose term for a nonstandard language or dialect. Some people may regard [term] as having a low status.

Cultural Imperialism

The way in which large and/or powerful countries or institutions impose their culture and values on smaller and/or less powerful ones.

Elaborated Code

Language use intended to be understandable to all, without the expectation of shared assumptions and understanding between participants.

Varieties of English

Regional and national forms of English with distinctively different features (e.g. British English, Estuary English, Australian English, Hinglish, Standard Singapore English)

Estuary English

A dialect and/or accent which originated in the areas around the River Thames in London, and which has since spread more widely throughout England.

Received Pronunciation (RP)

The accent most closely associated with Standard English. Unlike other accents of English, [term] is seen more as an indicator of status rather than being linked to a geographical area.

Global (world) language

A language used across the world for written, spoken, and digital communication, typically coexisting with local languages. English is recognized as the predominant [term] of the 21st century.

Protolanguage

A hypothesized ‘ancestor’ language, from which more recent languages are derived. A [term] shared by many of the world’s languages (e.g. English, Spanish, Russian, Hindi, and Persian) is Proto-Indo-European.

Restricted code

Language use that assumes some shared assumptions and understanding between participants, and which might not be fully comprehensible to all.

Speech community

A group of people defined by their shared linguistic norms and expectation