Watch Your Language Blog

Globish

The BBC reports that a new brand of English is emerging, a neo-language of international communication called "Globish" that — despite technically being English — leaves many English speakers out of the communication puzzle.

In a meeting with colleagues from around the world, including an Englishman, a Korean and a Brazilian, he noticed that he and the other non-native English speakers were communicating in a form of English that was completely comprehensible to them, but which left the Englishman nonplussed.

He, Jean-Paul Nerriere, could talk to the Korean and the Brazilian in this neo-language, and they could understand each other perfectly.

But the Englishman was left out because his language was too subtle, too full of meaning that could not be grasped by the others.

In other words, Monsieur Nerriere concluded, a new form of English is developing around the world, used by people for whom it is their second language.

Defining traits of Globish: a vocabulary of no more than 1500 words, restricted use of abbreviations, humor, and metaphor that might confuse any non-native speaker of English. (SUZANNE)

Tags: English, Globish
January 26, 2009