Intelligibility in World Englishes Theory and Application [Paperback]

Intelligibilityis the term most generally used to address the complex of criteria that describe, broadly, how useful someones English is when talking or writing to someone else. Set within the paradigm of world Englishes  which posits that the Englishes of the world may be seen as flexibly categorized into three Circles (Inner, Outer, Expanding) in terms of their historical developments  this text provides a comprehensive overview of the definitions and scopes of intelligibility, comprehensibilityandinterpretability, and addresses key topics within this paradigm:

• Who  if anyone  provides the models and norms for a given population of English users?
• Hybridityand creativityin world Englishes
• Evaluating paradigms: misinformation and disinformation
• Practicalities of dealing with the widening variety of Englishes
• Is English falling apart ?

The much-debated issue of intelligibility touches not only sociolinguistic theory but all aspects of English language teaching, second language acquisition, language curriculum planning, and regional or national language planning. Designed for students, teacher educators, and scholars internationally, each chapter includes Topics for Discussion and Assignments and Suggestions for Further Reading.

Foreword, Larry E. Smith

Preface

Acknowledgements

Ch. 1: Understanding and Intelligibility in World Englishes

Ch. 2: Intelligibility, Comprehensibility, Interpretability

Ch. 3: Hybridity, Creativity and Intelligibility in World Englishes

Ch. 4: Other Conceptualizations of Intelligibility

Ch. 5: Intelligibility in English Language Teaching

Ch. 6: Intelligibility and the On-Going Expanlã²