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World Englishes and Asian Englishes: A survey of the field

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English as an International Language in Asia: Implications for Language Education

Part of the book series: Multilingual Education ((MULT,volume 1))

Abstract

This chapter provides a survey of issues central to the study of English as an international language in the Asian context, with particular reference to world Englishes, and English in the Asian region. This includes a discussion of perspectives on English worldwide, an examination of current debates on world Englishes, a discussion of the dynamics of Asian Englishes, and a consideration of questions relating to language education in the region. Although the current emphasis on the importance of English in Asian education system may be explained by historical, economic and educational factors linked to Asian modernity and the upward aspirations of the growing Asian middle class, educationally and linguistically, the promotion of English carries with it a certain cost. The challenge for language education in the region is to consider critically how English might best be taught or be used as a teaching medium in the typically multilingual education systems of Asian societies.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of English, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China

    Kingsley Bolton

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  1. Kingsley Bolton
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Correspondence to Kingsley Bolton .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , School of Languages and Linguistics, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, 4111, Queensland, Australia

    Andy Kirkpatrick

  2. 67 Layfield Rd., Anstead, 4070, Queensland, Australia

    Roland Sussex

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Bolton, K. (2012). World Englishes and Asian Englishes: A survey of the field. In: Kirkpatrick, A., Sussex, R. (eds) English as an International Language in Asia: Implications for Language Education. Multilingual Education, vol 1. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4578-0_2

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