Why talk about world Englishes, rather than standard English?

In this period of globalization, many variations of Englishes sprouted like mushrooms. English being the choice language for international business, it is important to take note that more and more people are attempting to learn and understand the language vis-a-vis their native dialect.

Disparity in diction, intonation, pronunciation, sentence construction, and idiomatic expressions make one nation's Englishes different from another nation's Englishes. Sometimes, English is being mixed with the local language, like in the case of Tag-Lish (a portmanteau of Tagalog and English), which is widely spoken in some parts of the Philippines. 

Even in the worldwide web, the Netizens seem to have adopted some sort of techno-English when discussing online. The third sex or LGT (Lesbian, Gay, and Transvestite) community has also their own English gay lingo. Moreover, the technical jargons by various professions, like the legalese, bureaucratese, and the likes, could not be discounted.

In short, English is no longer for Americans and Britons, but it is already spoken by almost everybody. Although we may be speaking with the same language, yet the chances of miscommunication and misunderstanding are still there.

Cultural understanding and semiotics must be taken into consideration in order to comprehend one's Englishes. Knowing the people and their way of life and traditions are just some effective ways to be able to relate to them.

Indeed, standard English has gone a long way through the years. It has branched out into several forms. Thus, it's about time to recognize its derivatives and acknowledge its variance and modification.

Coursera - Writing II: Rhetorical Composing

The Ohio State University

Forum Discussion: Why talk about world Englishes, rather than Standard English?

By Ludwig Ritchel A. Kalambacal
27 April 2013