A Fourth Circle of English

Abstract

This paper identifies a Fourth Circle of English, fueled by technology and outsourcing, and exemplified by the Indian speech community known as 'youngistan.' A variety of data are examined, including YouTube and other online advertisements, social media posts and exchanges, texts, as well as secondary data. To ensure a comprehensive and empirical account, the data are analyzed using applicable frameworks of critical discourse analysis, including Braj Kachru's world Englishes model premised on the notions of context-specific, geographic interpretations through the tripartite constructs acceptability, comprehensibility, and intelligibility. In the case of the interactive exchanges examined, conversational analysis was employed, as well. In addition to the researchers' assessment, the interpretations of undergraduate students in a Business Writing Course taught by the professor at Morgan State University, a historically black college and university (HBCU) are shared. The paper ends by discussing the implications of the types of language contact phenomena observed, before outlining directions for future research.

Trilingual and Multicultural Experiences Mitigating Students’ Linguistic Stereotypes: Investigating the Perceptions of Undergraduates of Chinese Heritage Regarding Native/Non-Native English Teachers

“…This theory has ignited much debate, criticism and challenges, for example, for its implied "correctness" of the English used by the Inner circle [51], the ambiguity of its members [52], or a possible "Fourth Circle" fueled by technology that it could not have expected [53]. Nevertheless, many linguists still consider it one of the most influential models for understanding the use of English worldwide [52].…”