Centre for Global Englishes

Centre for Global Englishes

Centre for Global Englishes

CGE (Centre for Global Englishes) produces and disseminates research on the linguistic and sociocultural dimensions of global uses and users of English (Global Englishes), and on English as a Lingua Franca in particular. The centre also provides a forum for knowledge-sharing and collaboration with other interested researchers and centres around the world.

Events

  • The Centre aims to bring together scholars with an interest in global Englishes through a range of regular and special events.   

Members

  • The Centre for Global Englishes has a wide range of members from the University of Southampton, including staff and PGR students, as well as members from other institutions. 

Publications

  • Global Englishes is a highly active and dynamic research field to which members of the centre make regular contributions.  

Research projects

  • Members of the centre are currently involved in a number of research projects related to global Englishes and the centre aims to produce research of international standing in this field. 

CGE

CGE

Centre for Global Englishes

      

How many English speakers are there globally?

  • It has been estimated (conservatively) that there are as many as 2 billion speakers of English as a second language or lingua franca worldwide today (Crystal, 2008).

      

Who speaks English?

  • The figures above suggest that those who use English as a second language or lingua franca outnumber first language speakers by at least 4:1.

Statistically, native speakers are in a minority for [English] language use, and thus for language change, for language maintenance, and for the ideologies and beliefs associated with the language

(Brumfit, C. 2001. Individual Freedom in Language Teaching p116)