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Old 23-Mar-2008, 18:54
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Default Re: the future of English?!

We seem to be talking at cross-purposes here, so I'll conclude with just two points. First, if you read the comments in reply to the article, some readers challenge Crystal's assertions regarding some of the non-native variants he discusses, suggesting that they are really examples of code-switching. I can see their point, because while Crystal talks about Indian English, he does not discuss Hinglish, which more nearly parallels some of the examples he does use.

Secondly, and lastly, your example sentences:

#1 The price is very suitable for me.
#2 The price is just right.

#1 Would you like to join our party on Friday?
#2 Would you like to come to our party on Friday night?

#1 this is my first time to come here
#2 my first time here.

Since a teacher gets paid for marking things right or wrong (among many other useful functions, of course), the sentences in blue may well be 'corrected' by an ESOL teacher. However, every one of them is easily understandable to native English speakers. Word choice is different, but critically word order isn't and the end result is a set of sentences that are both distinctively not British or US English and simultaneously comprehensible to those who do speak US or British English. In other words, mutually intelligible. Much more so than the words of that most English of writers, Geoffrey Chaucer.

As'salaam alaikum, noho ora mai!
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