1 English in the Expanding Circle – A third diaspora?

ABSTRACT: In looking at the spread of English to the rest of the world, two diasporas have currently been discussed in World Englishes literature. The first diaspora of English is found in countries such as Britain, the United States and Australia, where English is the native language. This is due to the early migration and settlement of native speakers of English into these countries, later regarded as homelands to these peoples. The second diaspora of English is found in countries such as India and parts of Africa, countries which were historically colonised at one time or the other by Britain. And although there may be local languages spoken in these countries, English continues to assume an important position because of its ties with the coloniser. Within Kachru’s conception of the three circles of English speakers in the world, the Inner Circle constitutes the first diaspora while the Outer Circle forms the second diaspora. This paper puts forward the view that the third and Expanding Circle should not be considered in the same light as the Outer Circle due to the absence of colonisation in its historical background. It is further argued that non-colonisation holds the key to understanding the attitudes of speakers in this Circle towards a nativised variety of English in general and the potential establishment of a nativised pedagogical model for teaching and learning