Attitudes, Quirk VS. Kachru
The monocentric school, led by the British linguist, Sir Randolph Quirk, wanted to unify
English variations by selecting a standard that would be used by users of English
worldwide. Quirk encouraged native and non-native speakers to acquire and use the
standard British English. He wanted to globalize the British standard because the rest of
the English varieties are, according to him "neither liberal nor liberating to permit
learners to settle for lower standards than the best." (9) The monocentric school's aim
was to preserve the English language and encourage users worldwide to imitate either
British or American native speakers because for Quirk, they speak the right form of
English. Quirk's …show more content…
My relationship with the English language is quite complicated. As a non-native speaker of English, I
sometimes find myself lacking the confidence to speak. I know that my skills aren't good enough to be
compared to native speakers, but I find myself comparing my skills of pronunciation and grammar to
other speakers, natives, and non-natives. I guess it is quite a normal thing to do. I sometimes try to imitate
an American speaker, I try to pronounce words as they do. Although, I find pleasure listening to British
English, I wouldn't dare to try to imitate a British accent. I also find pleasure listening to French people
speaking English because I find the French accent quite beautiful.
I grew up surrounded by English, almost my entire family from my mother's side is fluent in English.
Because of the vast age gap between my cousins and I, I tend to spend time with their numerous children.
I have a 13-year-old nephew who is quite fluent in English, to the point where he could be mistaken for a
native speaker. In fact, English is his first language. The reason behind his fluency in English is because
he grew up with his parents communicating in English most of the time. In fact, he doesn't speak
The monocentric school, led by the British linguist, Sir Randolph Quirk, wanted to unify
English variations by selecting a standard that would be used by users of English
worldwide. Quirk encouraged native and non-native speakers to acquire and use the
standard British English. He wanted to globalize the British standard because the rest of
the English varieties are, according to him "neither liberal nor liberating to permit
learners to settle for lower standards than the best." (9) The monocentric school's aim
was to preserve the English language and encourage users worldwide to imitate either
British or American native speakers because for Quirk, they speak the right form of
English. Quirk's …show more content…
My relationship with the English language is quite complicated. As a non-native speaker of English, I
sometimes find myself lacking the confidence to speak. I know that my skills aren't good enough to be
compared to native speakers, but I find myself comparing my skills of pronunciation and grammar to
other speakers, natives, and non-natives. I guess it is quite a normal thing to do. I sometimes try to imitate
an American speaker, I try to pronounce words as they do. Although, I find pleasure listening to British
English, I wouldn't dare to try to imitate a British accent. I also find pleasure listening to French people
speaking English because I find the French accent quite beautiful.
I grew up surrounded by English, almost my entire family from my mother's side is fluent in English.
Because of the vast age gap between my cousins and I, I tend to spend time with their numerous children.
I have a 13-year-old nephew who is quite fluent in English, to the point where he could be mistaken for a
native speaker. In fact, English is his first language. The reason behind his fluency in English is because
he grew up with his parents communicating in English most of the time. In fact, he doesn't speak