Kachrus Three Circle Model Evaluation

Kachrus Three Circle Model Evaluation The Three-circle Model of World Englishes was developed by Kachru in 1985 and it remains one of the most influential models for grouping the varieties of English in the world (Mollin, 2006, p.41). Kachru (1985) described the spread of English in terms of three concentric circles: the Inner Circle, the Outer Circle and the Expanding Circle. These circles represent the type of spread, the patterns of acquisition and the functional domains in which English is used across cultures and languages (Kachru, 1985, p.12). Although Kachrus three-circle of English is still an important initial stepping stone for the division of Englishes, drawbacks and variations have been identified by several authors, including Kachru himself (Yoneoka, 2002). The Kachrus Three-circle Model will be introduced and evaluated in this paper. In the Kachrus Three-circle Model, the Inner Circle Kachrus model refers to the traditional bases of English, dominated by the mother-tongue varieties, where English acts as a first language (White, 1997). The countries involved in the Inner Circle include the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The varieties of English used here are said to be norm providing. The Outer Circle consists of the earlier phases of the spread of English in non-native settings, where the language has become part of a countrys chief institutions, and plays an important second language role in a multilingual setting (Rajadurai, 2005). Most of the countries included in the Outer Circle are former colonies of the UK or the USA, such as Malaysia, Singapore, India, Ghana, Kenya and others (Rajadurai, 2005). The English used in the outer circle is considered as norm-developing. The Expanding Circle refers to the territories where English is learnt as a foreign language. The territories do not have a h istory of colonization by members of the Inner Circle and institutional or social role. English is taught as a foreign language as the most useful vehicle of international communication (White, 1997). The countries in the Expanding Circle include China, Japan, Greece and Poland (Crsytal, 1997). The English used in the Expanding Circle is regarded as norm dependent. The Kachrus model is in a dynamic nature. According to Kachru (1985), dividing English speakers into Inner, Outer and Expanding circles is preferable to the traditional native, ESL and EFL labels which involve the dichotomy between native and nonnative speakers (Rajadurai, 2005). English native speakers are visually not privileged since they are not placed at the top of the Three-circle Model. However, the model is not sufficiently dynamic to reflect the reality of English use in the world. It still prefers the English native speakers in the inner circle. The limitations of the model will be discussed in the following. According to Patil (2006), the model assumes that the three circles represent linguistic reality perfectly. Kachru (1985) himself has noted that the concentric circles may be oversimplified and fuzzy areas exist. Some special cases like South Africa and Jamaica are difficult to be classified. As Kachru himself has acknowledged, the fact is that the categories are not necessarily mutually exclusive and grey areas exist between the circles (Rajadurai, 2005). Apart from the fuzzy classification between circles, Tripathi (1998) points out that there are no mechanisms to differentiate varieties within a circle. Therefore, Crystal (1997) suggests not defining the boundaries of Kachrus concentric circles in such absolute terms. Kachrus model describes the Inner Circle, Outer Circle and Expanding Circle as norm-providing, norm-developing and norm-dependent. However, Crystal (1995) comments that the model cannot represent the reality of international English use because the reality is often not so clear-cut. Crystal wonders it is difficult to distinguish whether the Outer Circle looks to Inner Circle norms or it creates its own norms. Norms development is also possible in the Expanding Circle. The Three-circle Model fails to consider the growth of English in the world. It cannot account for the growing use of English, namely English as a lingua franca between speakers who do not share a first language (Mollin, 2006, p.41-42). English is now overwhelmingly widespread in international settings. It is the language choice in international organizations, companies as well as academic world (Katzner, 2002, p.39). It is also commonly used in the domains of the internet, international mass media and entertainment (Phillipson 1992). Crystal (1997, p.22) states that the speed with which a global language scenario has arisen is truly remarkable. The so called Expanding Circle of foreign language speakers included more than 750 million EFL speakers in 1997, compared to 375 million first language speakers and 375 million second language speakers. It is important to point out that the number of English users is developing at a faster rate as a language of international communication than as a language of intranational communication (Thesis, 2009). International communicat ion has become a common phenomenon between the circles and the increased mobility of people has made personal relationships across language borders (Thesis, 2009). Kachrus concentric circles seem to acknowledge diversity but little commonality across Englishes, describing the English varieties as separate (Burt, 2005). Due to the increasing international communication, the distinction between the Outer Circle and the Expanding Circle becomes fuzzy and cannot account for the growing use of English in todays world. In the Kachrus model, the Expanding Circle refers to the territories where English is learnt as a foreign language. However, because of the growth of English, the language has become a necessity in todays world; English is not only learnt in the expanding circle, or even mostly, to enable communication with the Inner and Outer Circles (Patil, 2006). The importance of English is keep increasing in the world, especially in the Expanding Circle. As a result, learning English can no longer be seen as learning a foreign language in the traditional sense (Patil, 2006). Graddol (2006) has even argued that knowing English has become a basic skill in the global world. Nunan shares the same feeling with Graddol that knowing English makes more sense than simply learning English for EFL or ESL (Robertson, 2005). The functions of English are highly restricted in the Expanding Circle which can not reflect the actual use of English. Englishes in the Expanding Circle are seen as far removed from the Inner Circle core and marginalized. As the description of the Expanding Circle mentioned in Kachru (1992), The performance varieties of English have a highly restricted functional range in specific contexts; for example, those of tourism, commerce, and other international transactions. In fact, the range of English use in the Expanding Circle has become much wider due to the increasing growth of English. There is much more use of English nowadays in some countries of the expanding circle, where it is only a foreign language à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦, than in some of the countries where it has traditionally held a special place (Crystal, 1997, p. 56). For example, although Egyptian English is classified in the Expanding Circle, there are a number of Egyptian contexts, such as medicine, higher education, the sci ences, or in tourism, which extend limbs into the Outer circle as well. (Yoneoka, 2002). The above example shows that the functions of Expanding Circle English today are not as restricted as Karchru mentioned. It can be observed that there is a merging of the Outer and Expanding Circles. The Three-circle Model implies that the Outer Circle cannot merge into the Inner Circle (Patil, 2006). However, sometimes it is difficult to define which one owns English as the first language and which one knows English as a second language. There are several countries where population movement, language loss, divergent language attitudes, and massive shifts in language use have made it difficult to answer the question: What is your first language?(Crystal, 1995, p. 363). Therefore, not only the classification between the Outer and Expanding Circles, that between Inner Circle and Outer Circles can also be tough. Some researchers suggest that Kachrus Three-circle Model should not base the classification of English speakers on national identity. National identity should not be a basis of classification of speakers of an international language. The more English becomes an international language, the more the division of its speakers into native and nonnative becomes inconsistent. (Brutt-Griffler and Samimy, 2001, p.104). Refer to this problem; Rajadurai (2005) has presented a different Three-Circle Model: While acknowledging the fuzzy distinctions between circles, in principle, the inner circle could comprise all users who are proficient in English and able to instinctively codeswitch between international and national or regional varieties to communicate in the most appropriate way. The second circle could consist of speakers who are proficient only in regional varieties, i.e. native and nonnative speakers with restricted intranational proficiency, while the outer circle could be made up of le arners of the language. Although English native speakers visually do not have higher hierarchy since they are not placed at the top of the Three-circle Model, it still prefers the English native speakers in the inner circle. As Burt (2005) comments, the Inner Circle clearly establishes at the top of the hierarchy. The idea that English is someones second language implies that it is someone elses first language. It gives the impression that English belongs to the native speaker who owns it as his first language. Kachru has acknowledged that it is almost unavoidable that anyone would take second as less worthy (Kachru and Nelson, 1996, p.79). In order to ease the problem, Yano (2001, p.122-123) has suggested that the ENL and ESL circles can merge into a single ENL circle with two sets of varieties: genetic and functional ENL. To conclude, Kachru Three-Circle model has limitations to reflect the reality of English use. The model is oversimplified and the classification among the three circles is fuzzy. In fact, the three varieties are mutually inclusive and grey areas exist. Due to the rapid growth of English, English status has increased in the Expanding Circle. English is not only learnt but more widely used in different settings. The classification between the Outer Circle and the Expanding Circle becomes difficult. Therefore, the Three-circle Model should be modified to a more dynamic one to represent the actual use of English. Instead of categorizing the English speakers based on national identity, the revised model can be classified in terms of the English proficiency in international and regional varieties. More research related to World Englishes should also be conducted in the future to meet the rapid growth of English.

Ambiguous Adventure

Ambiguous Adventure written by Cheikh Hamidou Kane talks about the life of Samba Diallo and his â€Å"adventure† which brings change to himself as well as his people. Black Skin, White Masks is written by Frantz Fanon and is criticizing the outlook of black people on themselves as well as how they see others. In the paragraphs below my response about the two books will be given. Ambiguous Adventure has education as a key theme.It talks about the sacrifice that the Diallobe people make by allowing their children to enroll in the white man’s school in order to protect the future of their people knowing that there is a possibility that the children would lose all knowledge about their culture and traditions. This novel also has the theme of belonging and acceptance. Samba has been exposed to two cultures and now feels that none of these cultures are his own. His generation has been mixed with two cultures that the only way to move forward would be to make their own culture .In Black Skin, White Masks accepting oneself is what in my opinion Frantz talks about. In connection to Ambiguous Adventure, one has to stop moaning about what has happened to him and start looking towards the future and that’s what Samba does. Black Skin, White Masks adds more understanding into the struggles of the black man which creates an insight into the life of Samba Diallobe and his people. It tells them that they should cut their loses short and move on with lives.

Termite

This is about termites and details my findings about them, and also is meant to provide some helpful info on how to deal with termite infestation. You’ll find lots of termite pictures here too. But this site is also meant to highlight a whole lot more interesting aspects on these insects, and feature many species which are NOT pests, and which are rare or will never be found in urban environments or human habitation. Second only to ants, termites are one of the most numerous insects on earth (number-wise), but due to habitat destruction, and environmental degradation, some species appear to be declining. A few other species though, are thriving and proving to be troublesome pests, in increasingly man-influenced environments! Very little is known about termites, and hopefully this site can be an online repository of information on them. As a whole, very little is known about termites, save for some species which are important from an economical point of view. Liquid termiticides are commonly applied as a form of barrier treatment, in order to control infestations of subterranean termites in and around homes. These types of barriers work by keeping termites away from a structure as well as killing those that penetrate the treated area. There are a few types of liquid termiticides available on the market today, which are commonly used by extermination professionals. Chemicals such as â€Å"Prevail† and â€Å"Demon† are repellents that keep termites a distance away from the treated area. While these options are relatively effective, it is possible for breaks to form in the treatment perimeter, or for soil to be moved. This can allow termites to penetrate the barrier and enter the home. Other forms of liquid termiticides such as â€Å"Phantom†, â€Å"Premise†, and â€Å"Termidor†, allow termites to enter the treated area and come into direct contact with the liquid. These chemicals do not repel and they do not kill on contact. Instead, the termites that come into contact with the chemical bring it back to their colony, which in turn eliminates the entire population.

The Canterbury Tales By Geoffrey Chaucer - 963 Words

The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer is a collection of 24 stories written during the Middle Ages. The tales were written with the intent of criticizing the functions of societal standards as well as the beliefs of the Church. â€Å"The Miller’s Tale,† one the most popular stories, offers unique insights into the customs and practices of the English middle class during the Middle Ages. The story follows the lives of John, Absolon, and Nicholas, three men who are involved with a beautiful woman named Alisoun. The male characters attempt to win over the heart of the beautiful Alisoun, leading to misfortune and despair. However, this misfortune is not distributed evenly, and the characters, with the purest of intents, end the story far worse off than their immoral counterparts. In â€Å"The Miller’s Tale,† Chaucer shows that life favors the characters with an inverted moral compass while ultimately destroying those who are more honorable. The parish cler k, Absolon, was depicted as a noble man who was mocked for his courtly nature. In the beginning of the tale, Absolon attempted to win the heart of the beautiful Alisoun with sauve gestures. To woo her, â€Å"he sent her sweetened wine, mead, and spiced ale, and wafers piping hot out of the fire... and because she was a townie, he offered money† (3376-3380). His attempt at flattery and courting Alisoun involved patience and offerings of nothing but kindness, music, and riches. Unfortunately, â€Å"he had for his labor nothing to scorn. AndShow MoreRelatedThe Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer1582 Words   |  7 Pages Geoffrey Chaucer wrote the Canterbury tales a collection of short tales in the 14th century. The compilation of stories are told by different characters within the narrative as part of a game proposed by the host. Each individual must tell two stories on their journey and two stories on their way back. 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