Which English (where, what and why)?
Students of English as a foreign language often ask which “version” of English is “best”? Clearly, there is a perception that some varieties of English have a higher value and status than others and that learning the right one ensures an enhanced degree of prestige and kudos. As with most things in life, “it ain’t quite that simple”!
Language as a reflection of power. English is one of the most widely spoken and written languages in the world, but this has not always been the case. At various times in history other languages have been dominant, e.g., Greek, Latin, French, Spanish and Arabic. This is the result of the relative economic and military power of countries where the language is spoken. Over time, the language of a powerful country often becomes the international language of business, culture and science. (Sign up now for that Chinese course!)
English as a world language. Over the past three hundred years, English has become an important world language. Initially, because of the power and reach of the British Empire; more recently, this has been to do with the military, economic and cultural rise of the USA. This use of English as a lingua franca is not an intrinsic reflection of the superiority of English over other languages. In a similar way, while certain varieties of English are less commonly spoken or taught than others (e.g., Australian English or Nigerian English), this does not mean that they are inferior to British or American English.
The dynamic nature of language. Languages are in a continuous state of flux; they change over time, adapting to new circumstances and developing new aspects of vocabulary, pronunciation and spelling. Modern-day speakers of English would find it hard to understand the Old English of the 10th century. Even today’s older generation might struggle to understand current colloquial versions of the English language!
British v American English. It is often claimed that American English is the best option for a second language learner because it is modern and the language of the most powerful nation on Earth. While this may be true, at least to some extent, the concept of modernity is an interesting one, particularly in relation to the phenomenon of “language freezing”. Freezing occurs when phrases and vocabulary items used by the original emigrants have disappeared from the language of the mother country but have been preserved in the new. Some expressions referred to as "Americanisms" can, in fact, be traced back to the original British English. They have been preserved in the new country, but lost in the mother country, e.g., trash for rubbish and fall for autumn.
Horses for courses.Ultimately,choosing which language variety to learn is down to individual need and intended purpose. For example, an EFL student who wants tostudy at a USA university might well decide to learn American English. American English is also more widespread, which makes it more desirable for many learners. The choice is always going to be about what is better for me, rather than which language is better.
