Table Of ContentExploring Language in
Global Contexts
This accessible and engaging textbook ofers a practical approach to understanding the
complexity of language by exploring language use and language learning in a wide
variety of contexts.
Bringing together leading specialists who are active researchers in the feld of lin-
guistics, this book introduces readers to major felds of language study by focusing on
social, cultural and historical factors that show the dynamic nature of language. Topics
explored include frst and second language acquisition, grammar, meaning-making and
pragmatics, language use and technology, language variation, and English as a global
language. This book surveys major principles and shows how to apply them through
structured discussion topics and activities to facilitate a greater understanding and ap-
preciation of language.
This is essential reading for undergraduate students taking courses in linguistics and
language use, and a valuable resource for students of communication studies, media
studies, sociology and anthropology.
Jefrey Gil is Senior Lecturer in ESOL/TESOL at Flinders University, A ustralia.
His research interests include English as a global language and the use and status of
Chinese around the world.
Sky Marsen is the Director of the Communication Program at Flinders University,
Australia. Her research interests include semiotics, discourse analysis and strategic com-
munication. She has international experience in lecturing and researching in these areas
and is the author of several articles and books.
Exploring Language in
Global Contexts
Edited by
Jefrey Gil and Sky Marsen
Cover image: © Getty Images
First published 2022
by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2022 selection and editorial matter, Jefrey Gil and Sky Marsen; individual
chapters, the contributors
The right of Jefrey Gil and Sky Marsen to be identifed as the authors of the
editorial material, and of the authors for their individual chapters, has been
asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs
and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in
any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing
from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identifcation and explanation
without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Gil, Jefrey, editor. | Marsen, Sky, editor.
Title: Exploring language in global contexts / edited by Jefrey Gil and
Sky Marsen.
Description: Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2022. |
Includes bibliographical references and index. | Identifers: LCCN
2021059349 (print) | LCCN 2021059350 (ebook) | Subjects: LCSH:
Linguistics. | LCGFT: Textbooks.
Classifcation: LCC P121 .E974 2022 (print) | LCC P121 (ebook) | DDC
410—dc23/eng/20220218
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021059349
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021059350
ISBN: 978-1-032-14599-0 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-14600-3 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-24009-9 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003240099
Typeset in Bembo
by codeMantra
Contents
List of fgures xi
List of tables xiii
List of contributors xv
Acknowledgements xvii
1 How Does Language Work? 1
JEFFREY GIL AND SKY MARSEN
Design features of human language 2
Displacement 2
Arbitrariness 2
Cultural transmission 2
Productivity 3
Duality 3
Sign systems 4
Learning languages 5
Grammar and structure 5
Meaning and signifcation 7
Language and technology 8
Language variation 9
Global languages 9
Key concepts 11
Activities for refection and discussion 11
References and further reading 11
2 How Do We Learn Languages? 13
MAI TUYET NGO
Summary of key points 13
Guiding questions 13
What are the key developmental stages and processes of First Language Acquisition (FLA)
in all human languages? 13
What is childhood bilingualism? 16
What are the main theories of First Language Acquisition (FLA)? 16
Behaviourist theory 17
vi Contents
Innatist theory 17
Interactionist theory 18
What are the main theories of Second Language Acquisition (SLA)? 19
Behaviourist theory 19
Innatist theory 19
Cognitivist theory 21
The interaction hypothesis 21
The noticing hypothesis 21
Sociocultural theory 22
Processability theory 22
Complexity theory 23
What is Instructed Second Language Acquisition (ISLA)? How do we learn second
languages in classrooms? 23
Conclusion 26
Key concepts 26
Activities for refection and discussion 26
References and further reading 27
3 What is Language Made Of? 29
JAVIER DÍAZ MARTÍNEZ
Summary of key points 29
Guiding questions 29
What makes human language unique? 29
How does grammar separate human language from animal communication? 30
Productivity 30
What is grammar and why do we need it? 31
Grammar and grammars 32
Linguistic levels 33
How long can a word be and what is the shortest sentence? 34
Words and sounds 34
Words and sentences 34
Is there anything we cannot say? 37
Linguistic relativity 37
Where does grammar come from? 38
Generative grammar 38
Systemic functional grammar 39
Conclusion 40
Key concepts 41
Activities for refection and discussion 41
References and further reading 41
4 How Do We Make Meaning With Language? 43
SKY MARSEN
Summary of key points 43
Guiding questions 43
Contents vii
What is the connection between words and world? 43
Semiotics and the sign 43
How do words create meaning? 45
Denotation and connotation 45
Co-text and context 46
Representation and reference 47
Meaning and reality 48
How does language perform changes in the world? 48
Pragmatics and performativity 49
Speech acts 49
Cooperation in interaction 51
Deixis 52
Discourse and point of view 53
Why is there misunderstanding? 54
Conclusion 55
Activities for refection and discussion 55
Key concepts 56
References and further reading 56
5 How Does Technology Afect Language Use? 58
ANTONELLA STRAMBI AND OLGA SANCHEZ CASTRO
Summary of key points 58
Guiding questions 58
What communicative goals does text messaging support? 58
Is texting spoken or written communication? 62
Textual interactivity 62
Spontaneity 63
Communicative distance 63
What are the linguistic features of text messaging? 64
Discourse management 65
Emoticons and emojis 67
How does variation apply to text messaging? 69
Is text messaging changing the way we communicate? 73
Conclusion 74
Key concepts 75
Activities for refection and discussion 75
References and further reading 76
6 How Do Languages Vary? 79
CHRISTÈLE MAIZONNIAUX
Summary 79
Guiding questions 79
What is language variation? 79
How does language variation afect the private and the public sphere? 80
What are the positive and negative attitudes towards language variation? 81
viii Contents
Communities: a sense of belonging 81
Positive curiosity 82
Discrimination 82
Is language variation integrated into language curricula? 84
The case of French as a foreign language 84
What can we do to better integrate language variation into language teaching? 87
Phonological variation: Cameroon French 87
Lexical variation: Swiss French 89
Conclusion 90
Key concepts 90
Activities for refection and discussion 90
References and further reading 92
7 How Does a Language Become Global? 95
JEFFREY GIL
Summary of key points 95
Guiding questions 95
What is a global language? 95
How did English become a global language? 96
British colonialism 96
Industrial Revolution 97
USA’s role in the world 98
How can we describe the use and status of English in the world today? 100
Inner Circle 101
Outer Circle 101
Expanding Circle 101
What are the risks posed by a global language? 102
Linguistic complacency 102
Inequalities and discrimination 102
Language endangerment 103
What could stop English being a global language? 103
Lack of incentive to learn English 104
Replacement by another language in second/foreign language education 104
Translation technology 104
Lack of resources for English language learning and teaching 105
Resistance to English 105
Divergence of English into diferent languages 105
What are some future scenarios for language use globally? 106
Reliance on translation 106
Receptive multilingualism 106
Codeswitching and language mixing 107
Mandarin Chinese as a global language 107
Conclusion 107
Key concepts 108
Activities for refection and discussion 108
References and further reading 109
Contents ix
8 What Do We (Not) Know About Language? 112
JEFFREY GIL AND SKY MARSEN
What we know about language 112
Languages show similarities which allow them to be grouped together
into “families” 112
Languages are dynamic; they change over time, through usage and media 113
Speech is universal and inherent while writing is a more recent development 114
What we don’t know about language 114
How language originated 114
How many languages there are 116
What we are learning about language now and into the future 117
How future attitudes to social diversity may infuence perceptions of language
variation 117
How future developments in technology may afect language 119
How ambiguity in language may be approached in the future 120
How future distributions of global power may afect language 122
Key concepts 124
Activities for discussion and refection 124
References and further reading 125
Index 127
