(MUSIC)
Hello! Today we talk about not only the English language
but the different Englishes within the English language.
We'll see and reflect together how English is spoken in the world
and the countries where English is a major language.
Also, English is the main second language in the world
so we'll reflect about that too.
We'll see a few sample differences
and we'll end up this presentation with a final remark
about being socioculturally competent
something we have to think of because it's not so common
that we are invited to think of English as...
as more than a set of grammar rules and a ward of vocabulary.
English may not be the most widely spoken language.
True, perhaps it's not.
As a native language, that is.
But it's a must in modern society. No doubt about that.
English is truly a lingua franca all over the world
for business, commerce, science, technology, mass media, etc.
and of course, tourism
so, we need to know more about our topic.
How many European countries have English as an official language?
And Asian? How many Asian countries are there
that have English as an official language?
India, remember? American?
How many are American? African?
There are plenty of countries apart from the United Kingdom
and the United States of America with English as an official language.
Let's see for example in Europe.
I've just mentioned the UK, or Britain, as it's called.
Of course, the neighbouring Ireland but there's also Malta
and there are plenty of islands around the British Isles
that speak English and also Gibraltar.
So, what's the full name of the UK?
We speak about England, UK, Britain
but, as you know, it's got a long name.
This course wants you to know all the major facts
about the language you're studying.
The United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.
Can you describe its political system?
A unitary state with four different countries?
Can you describe its geographical limitations?
Have you ever heard the full term The Commonwealth of Nations
and what it refers to?
If we move on from Europe and we go on to America
in America we find the USA
with English as an official language, and also in Canada
and many Caribbean countries: Barbados, Jamaica, Bahamas, etc.
Very exciting countries too!
What's the name in English of America's political system?
Federal State, yes?
Why does the capital, Washington, have D.C. after its name?
Are there any cultural and linguistic distinctive features of the US?
For example, national holidays or celebrations they have.
Just the major ones?
Is Canada culturally closer to the US or the UK?
Interesting, because geographically it's a lot closer to the US
however, as you know, it used to be a British colony
and it has important cultural and political links to the UK
still nowadays.
And the name of the people in the northern part of Canada?
The Inuit, yes?
What is linguistically peculiar about Canada?
It's a bilingual country. Why is that?
What is a Celt?
Are Galicia and Ireland related?
If we study all these issues, not only we become more cultured
and knowledgeable about the language that is the object of our study
but we see the connections we have with the Anglophone World.
Terms like The Great Irish Famine.
We see them in the literature.
In history books. What does it refer to?
They're fundamental issues about fundamental countries
that have English as a Foreign Language.
They're probably basic facts about our future
present and future interlocutors when we speak in English.
English, apart from these countries and others you'll see this year
like India, South Africa, just to mention
Australia, just to mention different continents.
English is the main second language in the world
and we have very interesting mix-ups.
One is more familiar to us: Spanglish.
It's spoken in areas like Gibraltar
where you find lexical items of one language
when using another language, a very interesting phenomenon.
And also Singlish, for example.
Singapore is very important for business and finance.
And there is a…
there's an interesting linguistic phenomenon
because of the influence of Chinese and also English.
And here lies the main treasure of the English language.
Being the main second language without any doubt.
A language that's well know to be more important
for a number of people who speak it as a second language
than the number of people who speak it as a first language.
These differences, even in native English communities
permeate along all linguistic levels.
In this course, you'll be studying
that some vocabulary items sometimes are different
depending on whether you're a speaker
from the UK, Australia, or the United States.
We'll concentrate on some of them.
We can't teach you all the differences.
We want to create certain awareness about this fact
so that when you go through life and encounter these words
and check they're not understood by other people
by other natives, you know why
and you grow some sensitivity towards this phenomenon.
Also, pronunciation.
An obvious example is the rolling “r” of Americans.
They roll the “r” a lot more
while in British English, the tendency is to omit the “r”.
The post-syllabic “r”. The “r” after a vowel in a syllable.
That way, for example, we say words like “work”.
"Work". Instead of "worrrrk".
Also, at the grammatical level we see differences.
In British English, we tend to say “I have got”
to express possession: “I have got a book”.
“I have got… a bag”.
While in American English and in other forms of English
you express that with the lexical verb “to have”.
“I have a book”. “I have a computer”.
Prosodic features: intonation. It depends on the community.
Finally, non-verbal language. A very important factor.
You'll see how in the different native English communities
the use of gestures is different.
They have different significance
something we have to be aware of.
It's not only vocabulary and grammar. There's a lot more to it.
So, we need to develop awareness.
That's the main point of all the sections in the textbook.
You'll find texts about the UK, Canada, etc.
The language of marketing...
the lexical differences in diverse communities.
Just to give you a taste of an important phenomenon.
We'd like you to develop that metacognitive ability
to go through life expecting these differences.
Also the cultural reasons and background to many of them.
Why is this important? To interpret them correctly.
Because the differences, the socio-linguistic differences
when you are interacting, speaking, writing to other people
with natives or non-natives of English
you need to interpret them correctly to avoid misunderstandings.
So you don't think they're trying to...
to imply a different communicative intent
you don't think they're angry or being too friendly
you know how to interpret them right
and also to communicate efficiently
in professional environments so you avoid the wrong impression.
Of course, in our private lives, we communicate the way we want
but if we're working in an international context
travelling all around the world, we need to know
how our possible...
use of the language might be interpreted.
Thank you for your attention.
I hope that, from now onwards
you keep an eye on these important issues
within the English language
and the Englishes inside.
Goodbye!
Subtitles: Tomás Costal.