What is Globish?
Globish ( Ɡləʊbɪʃ )noun
a simplified version of English used by non-native speakers, consisting of the most common words and phrases only Collins English Dictionary
English is the world’s leading lingua franca or second language.
In his survey for the British Council English Next, David Graddol concluded that the majority of conversations in English across the world no longer involved someone speaking their first language — what linguists call L2s .
The proportion of encounters involving a native English speaker is declining. This demonstrates the … growing role for global English.
Globish is a concept invented by French businessman Jean-Paul Nerrière. He began noticing that he could communicate more effectively with other non-natives L2s than those using their native tongue L1s:
… because my English was as limited as their English. It was easier for us to speak English with each other because we all had PROBLEMS. But they were never very DIFFERENT problems.
These ‘problems’ arise from native speakers assuming a common pool of shared vocabulary. Of course misunderstanding can arise between L1s — often from differences in class, education or location. Churchill was only half-joking when he spoke of the UK and the US being ‘two countries divided by a single language’.
But generally this ‘division’ between L1s can be easily overcome. Britain may not have ballparks or baseball but we can work out what it means to ‘hit the ball out of the ballpark’.
The problem with L1 — L2 interactions is that there is often a basic misunderstanding of the source of communication problems. Far more ‘simple’ idioms and colluquial terms will go unrecognised.
Another source of comprehension issues is posed by phrasal verbs. This is when the meaning of a verb is altered by a preposition — get out, turn down, show up. These are generally not complex for L1s but can be baffling for L2s. We’ll start when they arrive is more formal but easier to understand than ….when they show up.
L2s instinctively aim to avoid verbal confusion, while L1s remain oblivious to the problem.
when a Japanese employee met a Belgian, a Chilean and an Italian, they managed. None spoke English brilliantly but each knew the others were making mistakes too. When an American or British manager walked in, everything changed. The native speakers talked too fast and used mysterious expressions.
To Nerrière there is only one solution — and it does not involve more English classes. He claims that Globish is a ‘language tool’ rather than a language, with a subset of standard English grammar, and a list of 1500 English words. The emphasis is on practicality and adaptation:
With 1500 of the most common words from English, you can say all you need or want — maybe not perfectly — but understandably. With simple sentence structures…And no idioms that we can’t understand…And no jokes!
Quite right! We wouldn’t want anyone laughing out of turn. Or telling stupid idiomatic gags using non-listed words.
Different strokes
Nerriere has identified an important distinction between the expectations of L1s and L2s. The latter tend to focus more on communicating explicit meaning than on inference
With more access to linguistic and cultural conventions and a broader vocabulary, native speakers can ‘read between the lines’. This may at the same time introduce greater ambiguity. A Japanese client tells her Italian designer I don’t like that colour whereas between English native speakers this might be rendered That colour is too loud/tacky.
Globish is an attempt to establish a set of rules or guidelines that L2s can rely on — limiting the number of verbs and so on. It puts greater emphasis on clarity of expression, which it is undeniably important, especially when conducting business or discussing technical or legal matters.
Some would argue that reducing language to pure functionality strips it of subtlety and poetry. Nerrière concedes that Globish is ‘decaffeinated English, or English-lite’. The word globish itself will not win any prizes for aesthetic beauty.
Nerrière is unconcerned. His aim is to create the linguistic equivalent of a budget airline. And like any challenger company CEO, he wants to clip the wings of the establish leader in the field. The frenchman wants to ‘limit the influence of English dramatically’ and issues a call to arms to defend other ‘threatened’ languages:
‘I am helping the rescue of French, and of all the languages that are threatened by English today but which will not be at all endangered by Globish. It is in the best interests of non-Anglophone countries to support Globish, especially if you like your culture and its language.’
To use one of those cursed idioms, that’s fighting talk, Monsieur.
More English Language FAQ
Why is English the ‘global language’? * Is English the easiest language?
Countries that do not have an official language? * About Esperanto
What is the ‘language instinct?? Download: English: Global Language (free)
