The proposed book, An Introduction toWorld Englishes is designed to introduce readers to the role English plays in the world today and the effects of its use in diverse social, cultural, and geographical contexts. It is likewise designed to orient readers to the history, contexts, as well as fundamental concepts and contentious constructs at the heart of most explorations of the world s Englishes. A desired outcome for the readers is deeper insight into such issues as language choice, language change, language politics, language attitudes and the influence of these factors on the lives of users of English. As an introductory text, the book will introduce various approaches to world Englishes studies and what can be learned from different perspectives, for example, applied linguistics, critical linguistics, historical linguistics, and sociolinguistics.
Intended for a global audience with little or no background in the burgeoning field of world Englishes (WE) studies or familiarity with the connotations accompanying the term world Englishes , the book s primary audience would be students specializing in English studies, in any aspect of linguistics, in English as a second/foreign language, in international communication, and in English education. As a textbook, it includes suggestions for further reading, writing topics, discussion questions, and activities designed to engage students in their own exploration of the concepts and issues introduced in each chapter. This treatment of the subject seems timely given the effects of globalization, which is to a large degree facilitated (for better or worse) by users of English and the material and intellectual products they make. Undergraduate education has been recognized as the locus for preparing students for the demands and expectations made of them in the workplace and in their personal lives.
Given that English is one of the most, if not the most frequently used language for international communication, a sound, basic understanding of how it is used outside one s comfort zone (local, regional, national), who uses it for what purposes, and with what effect would be an important part of an education for the 21st century. This book, we believe, would serve that purpose.
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Margie Berns (first author) Professor of English as a Second Language and Director of the Graduate Program in English as a Second Language, Department of English, Purdue University, Indiana, USA, 1987-present Selected publications: In the presence of English: the English language, media and European youth (Springer), 2006, co-editor
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