Cover not available
Part of
The Evolution of Englishes: The Dynamic Model and beyond
Edited by Sarah Buschfeld, Thomas Hoffmann, Magnus Huber and Alexander Kautzsch
[Varieties of English Around the World G49] 2014
► pp. 181–202

English in Cyprus and Namibia

A critical approach to taxonomies and models of World Englishes and Second Language Acquisition research

This paper follows up on the recent claim that the strict separation between second-language varieties of English and learner Englishes is inadequate. It approaches this idea by combining theoretical considerations on the traditionally established differences between the two types of English with findings from case studies on English in Cyprus (cf. Buschfeld 2013) and English in Namibia (cf. Buschfeld & Kautzsch fc. 2014). The results suggest that both Englishes defy clear classification as either learner language or second-language variety and therefore show that the strict separation of these two types of English should be reconsidered. Finally, the paper discusses a range of theoretical implications these findings bring about and if / how Schneider’s (2007) Dynamic Model can account for such cases.
Keywords: Cyprus, Dynamic Model, EFL, English, ESL, Namibia, SLA, structural nativization, variety status, World Englishes
Published online: 12 September 2014
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/veaw.g49.11bus
References (64)
Bauer, L. 2002. An Introduction to International Varieties of English. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.Google Scholar
Biewer, C. 2011. Modal auxiliaries in second language varieties of English: A learner’s perspective. In J. Mukherjee & M. Hundt (eds), 7–33.
Blommaert, J. 2010. The Sociolinguistics of Globalization. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Böhm, M.A. 2003. Deutsch in Afrika. Die Stellung der deutschen Sprache in Afrika vor dem Hintergrund der bildungs- und sprachpolitischen Gegebenheiten sowie der deutschen Auswärtigen Kulturpolitik. [Duisburger Arbeiten zur Sprach- und Kulturwissenschaft 52]. Frankfurt: Peter Lang.Google Scholar
Bonnici, L.M. 2010. Variation in Maltese English: The Interplay of the Local and the Global in an Emerging Postcolonial Variety. PhD dissertation, University of California. [URL] (10 October 2013).Google Scholar
Bongartz, C.M. & Buschfeld, S. 2011. English in Cyprus: Second language variety or learner English? In J. Mukherjee & M. Hundt (eds), 35–54.Google Scholar
Bongartz, C.M. & Mukherjee, J. 2009. Introduction: Non-native Englishes on the agenda of English linguistics. Anglistik 20(2): 7–11.Google Scholar
Bruthiaux, P. 2003. Squaring the circles: Issues in modeling English worldwide. International Journal of Applied Linguistics 13(2): 159–178. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Buschfeld, S. 2011. The English Language in Cyprus: An Empirical Investigation of Variety Status. PhD dissertation, University of Cologne.Google Scholar
. 2013. English in Cyprus or Cyprus English? An Empirical Investigation of Variety Status [Varieties of English Around the World G46]. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Buschfeld, S. & Kautzsch, A. 2014. English in Namibia: A first approach. English World-Wide 35(2): 121–160. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
. In prep. From EFL to ESL. How Schneider’s Dynamic Model can account for non-postcolonial contexts.
CIA. The World Fact Book: Namibia. [URL] (19 September 2013).
Coupland, N. (ed.). 2010. The Handbook of Language and Globalization. Malden MA & Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Davy, J. & Pavlou, P.M. 2010. Is Cyprus an ESL country? In Research on English as a Foreign Language in Cyprus, P. Pavlou (ed.). Nicosia: University of Nicosia Press.Google Scholar
Edwards, A. 2011. Introducing the Corpus of Dutch English. What it is, and where it does – and doesn’t – belong. English Today 107 27(3): 10–14. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Faustmann, H. & Peristianis, N. (eds). 2006. Britain in Cyprus. Colonialism and Post-Colonialism 1878–2006. Mannheim, Möhnesee: Bibliopolis.Google Scholar
Gilquin, G. & Granger, S. 2011. From EFL to ESL: Evidence from the International Corpus of Learner English. In J. Mukherjee & M. Hundt (eds), 55–78.Google Scholar
Görlach, M. 1990. The development of Standard Englishes [1988]. In Studies in the History of the English Language, M. Görlach (ed.), 9–64. Heidelberg: Carl Winter.Google Scholar
. 2002. English in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, the Philippines … a second or a foreign language? In Still More Englishes[Varieties of English Around the World G28], M. Görlach (ed.), 99–117. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Groves, J. 2010. Error or feature? The issue of interlanguage and deviations in nonnative varieties of English. HKBU Papers in Applied Language Studies 14: 108–129.Google Scholar
Hundt, M. & Mukherjee, J. 2011. Introduction: Bridging a paradigm gap. In J. Mukherjee & M. Hundt (eds), 1–6.Google Scholar
Kachru, B.B. 1985. Standards, codification and sociolinguistic realism: The English language in the outer circle. InEnglish in the World. Teaching and Learning the Language and Literatures, R. Quirk & H.G. Widdowson (eds), 11–30.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press for The British Council.Google Scholar
Kachru, B.B. (ed.). 1992. The Other Tongue. English across Cultures, 2nd edn. Urbana IL: University of Illinois Press.Google Scholar
Kaikitis, L. 1998. Zypern und die Europäische Union. Erwartungen und Probleme einer eventuellen Vollmitgliedschaft Zyperns. Aachen: Alano Herodot.Google Scholar
Karádi, M.Z. & Lutz, D.S. 1998. Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik. In Südosteuropa-Handbuch. Band VIII: Zypern , K.-D. Grothusen, W. Steffani & P. Zervakis (eds), 126–154. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.Google Scholar
Karyolemou, M. 2005. From linguistic liberalism to legal regulation: The Greek language in Cyprus. In Contemporary Sociolinguistic Issues in Cyprus, A.N. Papapavlou (ed.), 27–50. Thessaloniki: University Studio Press.Google Scholar
Kirkpatrick, A. 2008. English as the official working language of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): Features and strategies. English Today 94 24(2): 27–34.Google Scholar
Lowenberg, P.H. 1986. Non-native varieties of English: Nativization, norms, and implications. Studies in Second Language Acquisition 8(1): 1–18. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
McArthur, T. 1987. The English languages? English Today 11 3(3): 9–11. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
. 2003. World English, Euro English, Nordic English? English Today 73 19(1): 54–58. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
McEntee-Atalianis, L.J. & Pouloukas, S. 2001. Issues of identity and power in a Greek-Cypriot community. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development 22(1): 19–38. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Mesthrie, R. & Bhatt, R.M. 2008. World Englishes. The Study of New Linguistic Varieties. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Moag, R.F. 1982. English as a foreign, second, native, and basal language: A new taxonomy of English-using societies. In New Englishes, J. Pride (ed.), 11–50. Rowley MA: Newbury House.Google Scholar
. 1992. The life cycle of non-native Englishes: A case study. In B.B. Kachru (ed.), 233–252.
Mollin, S. 2006. Euro-English. Assessing Variety Status. Tübingen: Gunter Narr.Google Scholar
Mukherjee, J. & Hundt, M. (eds). 2011. Exploring Second-Language Varieties of English and Learner Englishes. Bridging a Paradigm Gap [Studies in Corpus Linguistics 44]. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
O’Malley, B. 2006. The impact of British strategic interests on the Cyprus problem. In H.  Faustmann & N. Peristianis (eds), 473–490.
Platt, J., Weber, H. & Ho, M.L. 1984. The New Englishes. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.Google Scholar
Poew, R. 2007. Der Beitritt Zyperns zur EU – Probleme des Völkerrechts, des Europarechts und des zypriotischen Rechts. Leitideen für die Entwicklung eines zukünftigen reorganisierten gesamtzypriotischen Staates. Hamburg: Lit Verlag.Google Scholar
Presse- und Informationsamt der Republik Zypern. 1999. Zypern. Nicosia.Google Scholar
Qiong, H.X. 2004. Why China English should stand alongside British, American, and the other ‘world Englishes’. English Today 78 20(2): 26–33. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Quirk, R., Greenbaum, S., Leech, G. & Svartvik, J. 1972. A Grammar of Contemporary English. London: Longman.Google Scholar
Richter, H.A. 2006. Benevolent autocracy 1931–1945. In H. Faustmann & N. Peristianis (eds), 133–149.Google Scholar
Schneider, E.W. 2003. The dynamics of New Englishes: From identity construction to dialect birth. Language 79(2): 233–281. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
. 2007. Postcolonial English: Varieties around the World. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Schwenger, C.P. 1964. Selbstbestimmung für Zypern: Die Prinzipien von Selbstbestimmung und Schutz der Nation in ihrem Einfluß auf die Entstehung der Republik Zypern. PhD dissertation, Julius-Maximilians-Universität zu Würzburg.Google Scholar
Selinker, L. 1972. Interlanguage. IRAL – International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching 10(3): 209–231. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Special Eurobarometer. 2006. Europeans and their languages. [URL] (11 October 2013).
Sridhar, K.K. & Sridhar, S.N. 1986. Bridging the paradigm gap: Second language acquisition theory and indigenized varieties of English. World Englishes 5(1): 3–14. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Stals, E.L.P. & Ponis, F.A. 2001. Só het Afrikaans na Namibië gekom. Windhoek: Gamsberg Macmillan.Google Scholar
Stamatakis, N. 1991. History and nationalism: The cultural reconstruction of the modern Greek Cypriot identity. The Cyprus Review 3(1): 59–86.Google Scholar
Strang, B.M.H. 1970. A History of English. London: Methuen.Google Scholar
Strevens, P. 1981. Forms of English: An analysis of the variables. In English for Cross-Cultural Communication, L.E. Smith (ed.), 1–14. London: Macmillan.Google Scholar
. 1992. English as an international language: Directions in the 1990s. In B.B. Kachru (ed.), 27–47.
Szmrecsanyi, B. & Kortmann, B. 2011. Typological profiling: Learner Englishes versus indigenized L2 varieties of English. In J. Mukherjee & M. Hundt (eds), 167–187.Google Scholar
Terkourafi, M. 2007. Perceptions of difference in the Greek sphere: The case of Cyprus. Journal of Greek Linguistics 8(1): 60–96. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
The Constitution of The Republic of Namibia. 1990 [2010]. WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) Resources. [URL] (28 March 2012).
Trudgill, P. & Hannah, J. 2008. International English. A Guide to the Varieties of Standard English, 5th edn. New York NY: Routledge.Google Scholar
Tsiplakou, S. 2009. English in Cyprus: Outer or expanding circle? Anglistik20(2): 75–87.Google Scholar
Wallace, M., with Kinahan, J. 2011. A History of Namibia. London: C. Hurst & Co.Google Scholar
Wordweaver Publishing House. [URL] (19 September 2013).
Cited by (5)

Cited by five other publications

Schneider, Edgar W. & Anne Schröder
2021. Chapter 12. The dynamics of English in Namibia. In The Dynamics of English in Namibia [Varieties of English Around the World, G65], ► pp. 275 ff. DOI logo
Schröder, Anne
2021. Chapter 1. The dynamics of English in Namibia. In The Dynamics of English in Namibia [Varieties of English Around the World, G65], ► pp. 1 ff. DOI logo
BUSCHFELD, SARAH & ALEXANDER KAUTZSCH
2017. Towards an integrated approach to postcolonial and non‐postcolonial Englishes. World Englishes 36:1 ► pp. 104 ff. DOI logo
ONYSKO, ALEXANDER
2016. Modeling world Englishes from the perspective of language contact. World Englishes 35:2 ► pp. 196 ff. DOI logo
[no author supplied]
2023. Saipanese English [Varieties of English Around the World, G69], DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 29 september 2024. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.