Event Details

This talk will discuss the spread of English around the world and its implications for how we understand English language “proficiency”

First, we will chart the emergence of World Englishes and English as a Lingua Franca and consider the ways in which the spread of English has been perceived as both a positive and a negative phenomenon. Then, we will look at a unique situation where World Englishes and English as a Lingua Franca have particular relevance: aviation communication. Finally, we will consider the question of what it means to be “proficient” in English given its diverse norms and uses.