I feel that it was an eye-opening week in CCC. I really enjoyed your comments and feedback in class. You are engaging and thought-provoking, and it has been a pleasure to discuss these international issues that complicate communication.For example, in Thoughts and Reflections, one student wrote:
"English is known as an international language. However, I think English is just English, and I feel that the owner is the Native English speaker. I study English because I want to be able to communicate with natvie English speakers for many reasons. If every county has their mixed English such as Tinglish, Chinglish, Spanglish, etc., it will be very chaotic because if we want to use English with Chinese people, we have to learn Chinglish, not English."
This comment is very insightful and important. This comment goes to the heart of the debate of English as an International Language (EIL). Is there a universal standard? Are native speakers the authority? If every culture develops their own form of English, then what is the point of having an International Language?
Question: How can we balance this issue? How do we meet the needs for international people to communicate clearly with language, and meanwhile meet the needs for people to express their own cultural identity?
I hope this student's comments will inspire some ideas and new comments and questions to think about. Aj. M
International language is a language which used to communicate people in universal. In my idea, English used to be the international laguage in globalization because of the powerful nation use Engliah as their own language like USA or Europe. When the powerful country in the world use English for their own laguage, it's affect to the others country...like when they want to do the business with this country, English will use to comunicate for their business. Then, English come to be the international language.
ReplyDeleteIn the other hand,if the powerful nation isn't used the English as their own laguage...the international language will change. Think that , if Chinese become to be the powerful nation in the business world, there are not only English we can know but also Chinese. Now English becomes to be an international language where everyone use around the world...but no one knows the future. English is just English.
Actually, in my opinion, we say we may have to learn the adapted English in different styles if we want to use English with a prticular nation. Like we may have to study Chinglish if we want to communicate with Chinese people in English. However, don't you guys notice that Thai people have Tinglish, and Chinese people have Chinglish, why do they understand each other, while we haven't studied each other kind of English yet?
ReplyDeleteSo do we have to learn the particular English style in order to communicate with a particular language based person? I don't think so.
I think we don't have to learn each other English style but we always communicate succesfully. Maybe not at all, but at least we understand each other.
I have studied in Basic Chinese for two courses. In the first class, we are so nervous about the way of communication, but when they tought us, it was not like the way we had worried. They used Chinglish and we used Tinglish and we can understand each other without any single problem.
I think no matter what styles of English are, we all can understand each other. They're just dialect. Sometimes it's about different ways of use, but we still can learn and understand each other by communication. Like when foreign teachers come here to teach Thai students. They can understand us in the way of Tinglish. We understand them in thier ways of English.
I think all kinds of English can be undertood as long as people use it to communicate. Besides, I don't think that Chinese people in MFU try to learn Tinglish, because they still use their Chinglish.
I also had a chance to work in a cargo company which they transport stuff across countries. I had to talk to many people in many styles of English. They were Indians, Frenches, Italians, Spanishes, Germans etc. I and workers there use Tinglish even included Thai words like "na" or "dai mai?" at the end of the sentences. They all could understand us. So I think the styles are not important.
These are my opinion about English in foreigners' styles. If you think about we or even Queens English people cannot undstand Cockny, it will be like central Thai and other parts of Thai people cannot understand the Southern people. It's another case, not about English as an international language.
So I have a question for you, Aj. Matthew. Do you really have to learn Tinglish when you want to communicate with Thai people or other English style in order to communicate with them?
Thank you Serena and Paechan... we are lonely this week.
ReplyDelete"English Languages" is a much more complicated idea than just one English Language. The point that we studied in class was that Thai-English, although has some cultural differences, is still English.
And so yes, even with Thai-English, Thai people can communicate fine with any other English speaker. There may be some examples (joyful, never mind, begin, etc.) where there can be some cultural miscommunication, but in the end, we do quite well together with our own kinds of English.
McKay talks about "intelligibility," which basically means that if we do not communicate perfectly, can we still understand each other. She believes that "intelligibility" is the goal of an international language.
Thank you for your comments... I enjoy this topic.
It may be difficult to balance the two since some English native still view their English like standard.
ReplyDeleteIt is really a matter of perception.
As long as the message got sent correctly and appropriately, it should be find, right?
As i thought English as an International Language which we learn to communication as an universal so we learn the pattern or using ideal inside not the identity of language, every thing in language. if you can understand what that English expression means in term of any kinds of accent or dialects. I think it's alright.
ReplyDeletei also be the one who learn English for communication in many kinds of reasons, so i particularly concern with the using styles, then adapt or integrate with my own to communicate with other guys.
i think the way to balance their thought is to reduce their negative attitude to other side and do not mind in accent or origin of Language but concern with deep meaning inside will be healpful.
This is very interesting because I feel the same with the student who wrote that comment. For me, I am like English which spoken by Indian or European people. I like the way they accent the letters such as 'T' or 'R.'
ReplyDeleteHello Aj.Matthew
ReplyDeleteI thing differrentcial when people of each countries are speaking English language, it is showing to differrent culture too. Therefore, we must study this course. However, I think, it is amazing of languages.
Patcharawan Chuenchai(Melon)
ID:4931006267
Section:3