Abstract
What exactly is English, and what sort of English should we teach? This chapter introduces readers to a number of key notions around variation in English. There is a critical analysis of some ways that English has been modelled, and the implications for teachers and learners are explored. There is an examination of concepts and features such as dialects, accents, pidgins, creoles, and code-switching with tasks designed to promote reflection on the reader’s own linguistic affiliations and identities. There is an introduction to the discussions around English as a lingua franca and world Englishes, as well as considerations of proficiency and native speakerism. Throughout, it is argued that power and prestige have been and continue to be defining characteristics of the debates surrounding variation. Practical classroom tasks which raise awareness of linguistic variety, linguistic power, and the use of authentic texts are outlined.
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Valenzuela, H. (2020). Variation. In: Linguistics for TESOL. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-40932-6_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-40932-6_2
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