Todd Kachru in “Three Circles of English” observes that English speaking countries are separated into three groups.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Correct Answer :
Inner Circle, Outer Circle and Expanding Circle
Solution :
The correct answer is Inner Circle, Outer Circle and Expanding Circle.
Explanation:
Linguist Braj Kachru (referred to here as Todd Kachru) proposed the influential "Three Circles of English" model in 1985. This framework describes the historical spread, patterns of acquisition, and functional domains of the English language across different nations and cultures. The model categorizes English-speaking countries into three concentric circles:
• The Inner Circle: Represents the traditional historical and geographical bases of English, where it is spoken as the primary, native language (L1). Examples include the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. These countries are characterized as "norm-providing."
• The Outer Circle: Represents countries where English was introduced through colonial history. In these regions, English is typically used as a second language (L2) and plays an institutionalized role in education, government, administration, and law. Examples include India, Nigeria, Singapore, and the Philippines. These regions are characterized as "norm-developing."
• The Expanding Circle: Represents countries where English has no colonial history or official administrative status, but is widely learned and used as a foreign language (EFL) for international communication, trade, science, and technology. Examples include China, Japan, Germany, and Brazil. These regions are characterized as "norm-dependent."
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