English QuizEnglish Quiz

Indicate whether the following sentences Indicate whether the following sentences are acceptable or not. Revise any are acceptable or not. Revise any sentence you decide is unacceptable and sentence you decide is unacceptable and try to provide a reason for your evaluation.try to provide a reason for your evaluation.

Ready?Ready?

1. He has many luggages.1. He has many luggages.

2. If a passenger on a preponed flight 2. If a passenger on a preponed flight shows up at the time written on his ticket shows up at the time written on his ticket

and his plane has already left, he isand his plane has already left, he is not entitled to a refund.not entitled to a refund.

3. She lives in 6th Avenue, right behind the 3. She lives in 6th Avenue, right behind the church. church.

4. My daughter is having a terrible cold. I 4. My daughter is having a terrible cold. I will take her to the clinic this afternoon.will take her to the clinic this afternoon.

5. We often exchange our knowledges in 5. We often exchange our knowledges in class discussions. class discussions.

6. She has lead many tours at Buckingham 6. She has lead many tours at Buckingham Palace Palace

7. All my furnitures were burnt in the fire. 7. All my furnitures were burnt in the fire.

8. We shall discuss about your schedule 8. We shall discuss about your schedule conflict tomorrow. conflict tomorrow.

9. I request you to call back after three 9. I request you to call back after three o’clock when the manager returns from o’clock when the manager returns from her meeting.her meeting.

10. She bought carrots, two lettuces, and 10. She bought carrots, two lettuces, and several onions. several onions.

11. She will attend Northern Arizona 11. She will attend Northern Arizona University next year, isn’t it? University next year, isn’t it?

12. I am sorry for the botheration I have 12. I am sorry for the botheration I have caused you. caused you.

13. I have read this book yesterday. 13. I have read this book yesterday.

14. The student requested for an extension 14. The student requested for an extension on her homework because she had been on her homework because she had been sick for two weeks.sick for two weeks.

15. Many researches prove that cigarette 15. Many researches prove that cigarette smoking is hazardous to one’s health.smoking is hazardous to one’s health.

16. My husband, he is working at the 16. My husband, he is working at the hospital as a medical assistant.hospital as a medical assistant.

Your ScoreYour Score

How many of the 16 sentences did you How many of the 16 sentences did you mark as unacceptable?mark as unacceptable?

What were some of the corrections that What were some of the corrections that you made?you made?

AnswersAnswers

1.1. He has many He has many luggages.luggages.India, Singapore, Malaysia, HKIndia, Singapore, Malaysia, HK

2. If a passenger on a 2. If a passenger on a preponedpreponed flight flight shows up at the time written on his ticket shows up at the time written on his ticket and his plane has already left, he is not and his plane has already left, he is not entitled to a refund.entitled to a refund.

India India

3. She lives 3. She lives inin 6th Avenue, right behind the 6th Avenue, right behind the church.church.

UKUK

4. My daughter 4. My daughter is havingis having a terrible cold. I a terrible cold. I will take her to the clinic this afternoon.will take her to the clinic this afternoon.

IndiaIndia

5. We often exchange our 5. We often exchange our knowledgesknowledges in in class discussions.class discussions.

Malaysia, SingaporeMalaysia, Singapore

6. She has 6. She has lead lead many tours at Buckingham many tours at Buckingham Palace.Palace.

Spelling: (led in AE), UK and HKSpelling: (led in AE), UK and HK

7. All my 7. All my furnitures furnitures were burnt in the fiwere burnt in the fiSingapore., Nigeria, India, Malay., UK, Singapore., Nigeria, India, Malay., UK,

(many former British colonies)(many former British colonies)

8. We shall discuss 8. We shall discuss aboutabout your schedule your schedule conflict tomorrow.conflict tomorrow.

HK, Nigeria HK, Nigeria

9. I 9. I request yourequest you to call back after three to call back after three o’clock when the manager returns from o’clock when the manager returns from her meeting.her meeting.

South AfricaSouth Africa

10. She bought carrots, two 10. She bought carrots, two lettuceslettuces, and , and several onions.several onions.

UKUK

11. She will attend Marquette University 11. She will attend Marquette University next year, next year, isn’t itisn’t it??

Tag question Zimbabwe, some varieties of Tag question Zimbabwe, some varieties of UK, India, E/W AfricaUK, India, E/W Africa

12. I am sorry for the12. I am sorry for the botheration botheration I have I have caused you.caused you.

Archaic form from UK still used in IndiaArchaic form from UK still used in India

13. I 13. I have read have read this book yesterday.this book yesterday.Present perfect to indicate past some Present perfect to indicate past some

varieties of Indian Englishvarieties of Indian English

14. The student 14. The student requested forrequested for an an extension on her homeworkextension on her homework because because she had been sick for two weeks.she had been sick for two weeks.

Malaysian, SingaporeMalaysian, Singapore

15. Many15. Many researches researches prove that cigarette prove that cigarette smoking is hazardous smoking is hazardous to one’s health.to one’s health.

Canada, UK, S. Africa, (many former British Canada, UK, S. Africa, (many former British colonies)colonies)

16. 16. My husband, heMy husband, he is working at the is working at the hospital as a medical assistant.hospital as a medical assistant.

Topic comment structure HK, E/W AfricaTopic comment structure HK, E/W Africa

So…So…

All of these sentences are acceptable in All of these sentences are acceptable in some form of English.some form of English.

So, English is spreading throughout theSo, English is spreading throughout theworld. But what do we mean by spreading?world. But what do we mean by spreading?

Spread of EnglishSpread of English

Development of Distinct Varieties of Development of Distinct Varieties of EnglishEnglish

As the spread of English progresses, it is bound to As the spread of English progresses, it is bound to reflect a diversity of disparate cultures. reflect a diversity of disparate cultures.

Non-native speakers are taking advantage of this Non-native speakers are taking advantage of this additional language and are exploring new dimensions additional language and are exploring new dimensions of English usage, phonetically, lexically, syntactically, of English usage, phonetically, lexically, syntactically, semantically, and pragmatically. semantically, and pragmatically.

There is always room for non-native speakers to exploit There is always room for non-native speakers to exploit it in their unique ways. it in their unique ways.

We have seen many examples of this in the quiz we took earlier.We have seen many examples of this in the quiz we took earlier.

How do other varieties of English How do other varieties of English develop?develop?

We simply cannot internationalize things and We simply cannot internationalize things and ideas without having them accommodated to the ideas without having them accommodated to the customs and needs of people who are supposed customs and needs of people who are supposed to use them for their own purposes.to use them for their own purposes.

Are there Macdonald’s in India? Yes.Are there Macdonald’s in India? Yes.Do they serve hamburgers? No!Do they serve hamburgers? No!

The same goes with language. The same goes with language.

Diversification is the cost we have to pay for the Diversification is the cost we have to pay for the internationalization of English.internationalization of English.

It is important to recognize that English has become an It is important to recognize that English has become an international common language because it is being international common language because it is being enriched as a culturally diverse language.enriched as a culturally diverse language.

People might imagine that a common language should People might imagine that a common language should be a uniform language. But this is not true. be a uniform language. But this is not true.

If American or British English standards were imposed If American or British English standards were imposed upon all users of English, it would never have become upon all users of English, it would never have become an international common language. an international common language.

What happens when English What happens when English becomes internationalized? becomes internationalized?

New forms of language emerge (as we New forms of language emerge (as we have seen).have seen).

Potential for miscommunication.Potential for miscommunication.““My Mother Isn't Well, Sir.”My Mother Isn't Well, Sir.”

CROSSTALKCROSSTALK

　　 Setting: The office of a superintendent of Setting: The office of a superintendent of the Hong Kong Police Force. The the Hong Kong Police Force. The superintendent was English.superintendent was English.

A young Chinese police constable saluted A young Chinese police constable saluted the superintendent and stood at attention the superintendent and stood at attention in front of the desk.in front of the desk.

““Yes?”, enquired the superintendent.Yes?”, enquired the superintendent.　　　　　　““My mother is not very well, sir”, started the constable.My mother is not very well, sir”, started the constable.　　　　　　““Yes?”, repeated the superintendent, a frown appearing on Yes?”, repeated the superintendent, a frown appearing on

his brow.his brow.　　　　　　““She has to go into hospital, sir”, continued the constable.She has to go into hospital, sir”, continued the constable.　　　　　　““So?”So?”　　　　　　““On Thursday, sir.”On Thursday, sir.”

The superintendent’s frown was replaced by a look of The superintendent’s frown was replaced by a look of exasperation. “What is it that you want?”, he asked sternly.exasperation. “What is it that you want?”, he asked sternly.　　　　　　At this direct question, the constable's face fell and At this direct question, the constable's face fell and he simply mumbled, “Nothing, sir. It's all right”, and he simply mumbled, “Nothing, sir. It's all right”, and turned and left the room.turned and left the room.　　　　　　As soon as the door had closed the superintendent said:As soon as the door had closed the superintendent said:　　　　　　““You see. A classic case. They can't get to the point.”You see. A classic case. They can't get to the point.”

（（ Source: Honna, N., A. Kirkpatrick, and S. Gilbert Source: Honna, N., A. Kirkpatrick, and S. Gilbert （（ 20002000 ） ） English Across English Across CulturesCultures. Tokyo: Sanshusha.. Tokyo: Sanshusha. ））

Who is responsible for the Who is responsible for the miscommunication?miscommunication?

The superintendent?The superintendent?The constable?The constable?

Both?Both?

Do you think that when a country adopts Do you think that when a country adopts English for some purpose, that they need English for some purpose, that they need to adopt the vocabulary, grammar, and to adopt the vocabulary, grammar, and pragmatics of the “inner circle” countries?pragmatics of the “inner circle” countries?

– Why or why not?Why or why not?