Editing International English (section)

== English as a global language ==
{{See also|World Englishes}}
[[Braj Kachru]] divides the use of English into three concentric circles.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Kachru|first=Braj B.|date=January 1992|title=World Englishes: approaches, issues and resources|journal=Language Teaching|language=en|volume=25|issue=1|pages=1–14|doi=10.1017/S0261444800006583|s2cid=143270480 |issn=1475-3049}}</ref>

The ''inner circle'' is the traditional base of English and includes countries such as the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] and the anglophone populations of the former British colonies of the [[United States]], [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], [[South Africa]], [[Canada]], and various islands of the [[Caribbean]], [[Indian Ocean]], and [[Pacific Ocean]].

In the ''outer circle'' are those countries where English has official or historical importance ("special significance"). This includes most of the countries of the [[Commonwealth of Nations]] (the former British Empire), including populous countries such as [[India]], [[Pakistan]], and [[Nigeria]]; and others, such as the [[Philippines]], under the sphere of influence of English-speaking countries. English in this circle is used for official purposes such as in business, news broadcasts, schools, and air traffic.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Why Do You Need to Learn English?|url=https://www.languageacademia.com/post/why-do-you-need-to-learn-english-language|access-date=2022-01-24|website=Language Academia|date=2 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Some countries in this circle have made English their national language. Here English may serve as a useful [[lingua franca]] between ethnic and language groups. [[Higher education]], the legislature and judiciary, national commerce, and so on, may all be carried out predominantly in English.

The ''expanding circle'' refers to those countries where English has no official role, but is nonetheless important for certain functions, e.g., international business and tourism. By the twenty-first century, non-native English speakers have come to outnumber native speakers by a factor of three, according to the British Council.<ref>Graddol, David. 2006. English Next. British Council. {{cite web|url=http://www.britishcouncil.org/learning-research-english-next.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2007-04-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411060041/http://www.britishcouncil.org/learning-research-english-next.pdf |archive-date=2008-04-11 }}</ref>  Darius Degher, a former instructor at [[Malmö University]] in [[Sweden]], coined the term ''decentered English'' to describe this shift, along with attendant changes in what is considered important to English users and learners. The [[Scandinavia]]n language area as well as the [[Netherlands]] have a near complete [[bilingualism]] between their native languages and English as a foreign second language. Elsewhere in Europe, although not universally, English knowledge is still rather common among non-native speakers. In many cases this leads to accents derived from the native languages altering pronunciations of the spoken English in these countries.

Research on English as a lingua franca in the sense of "English in the Expanding Circle" is comparatively recent. Linguists who have been active in this field are [[Jennifer Jenkins (linguist)|Jennifer Jenkins]], Barbara Seidlhofer, Christiane Meierkord and [[Joachim Grzega]].