Edgar W. Schneider's dynamic model of postcolonial Englishes adopts an evolutionary perspective emphasizing language ecologies. It shows how language evolves as a process of 'competition-and-selection', and how certain linguistic features emerge. The Dynamic Model illustrates how the histories and ecologies will determine language structures in the different varieties of English, and how linguistic and social identities are maintained.Kirkpatrick, Andy (2007). ''World Englishes: implications for international communication and English language teaching''. Cambridge UP. Chapter 3.

Underlying principles

Five underlying principles underscore the Dynamic Model:Schneider, Edgar (2007). ''Postcolonial English: Varieties around the world''. Cambridge UP. Chapter 3. # The closer the contact, or higher the degree of

bilingualism Multilingualism is the use of more than one language, either by an individual speaker or by a group of speakers. When the languages are just two, it is usually called bilingualism. It is believed that multilingual speakers outnumber monolin ...

multilingualism Multilingualism is the use of more than one language, either by an individual speaker or by a group of speakers. When the languages are just two, it is usually called bilingualism. It is believed that multilingual speakers outnumber monolin ...

in a community, the stronger the effects of contact. # The structural effects of language contact depend on social conditions. Therefore, history will play an important part. # Contact-induced changes can be achieved by a variety of mechanisms, from

code-switching In linguistics, code-switching or language alternation occurs when a speaker alternates between two or more languages, or language varieties, in the context of a single conversation or situation. These alternations are generally intended to ...

to code alternation to acquisition strategies. # Language evolution, and the emergence of contact-induced varieties, can be regarded as speakers making selections from a pool of linguistic variants made available to them. # Which features will be ultimately adopted depends on the complete “ecology” of the contact situation, including factors such as demography,

social relation A social relation is the fundamental unit of analysis within the social sciences, and describes any voluntary or involuntary interpersonal relationship between two or more conspecifics within and/or between groups. The group can be a language or ...

ships, and surface similarities between languages etc. The Dynamic Model outlines five major stages of the evolution of

world Englishes World Englishes is a term for emerging localized or Indigenous language, indigenized varieties of English, especially varieties that have developed in territories influenced by the United Kingdom or the United States. The study of World English ...

. These stages will take into account the perspectives of the two major parties of agents –

settler A settler or a colonist is a person who establishes or joins a permanent presence that is separate to existing communities. The entity that a settler establishes is a Human settlement, settlement. A settler is called a pioneer if they are among ...

s (STL) and indigenous residents (IDG). Each phase is defined by four parameters: # Extralinguistic factors (e.g. historical events) # Characteristic identity constructions for both parties #

Sociolinguistic Sociolinguistics is the descriptive, scientific study of how language is shaped by, and used differently within, any given society. The field largely looks at how a language changes between distinct social groups, as well as how it varies unde ...

determinants of contact setting # Structural effects that emerge

References

{{Reflist Anglic languages Language contact Sociolinguistics Theories of language

Underlying principles

See also

References