Description
Book SynopsisThis book investigates the relationship between English and personal and national development, as this is both discursively promoted (particularly through language policy) and practically realized in developing societies. It addresses the effects that the increased use of English and the promotion of English-language education are having in developmental contexts, and their impact on broader educational issues, on local language ecologies and on questions of cultural identity. It investigates these issues by drawing together a series of original examinations and case studies by a range of leading scholars working in this burgeoning field. The chapters focus on a variety of contexts from around the world, and the volume as a whole surveys and critiques the positioning and influence of English as a catalyst for development in the 21st century.
Trade Review'English and Development: Policy, Pedagogy and Globalization' makes an important contribution to the growing field of language and development. The issues raised – including stakeholders’ attitudes to English; English and identity; the economic roles of English; and English as a medium of instruction and of testing – are all examined in development contexts. A particularly useful feature of the book is the variety of methodologies which contributors employ.
-- Hywel Coleman, University of Leeds, UK
This valuable and useful collection offers varied, insightful studies of English language education, language policies and language practices as they are affected by the interlinked dynamics of politics, pedagogies, economics and societal inequalities in multilingual Asian and African settings. The book will enrich discussions amongst educators, applied and sociolinguists and policy researchers with regard to the complex, uneven and heterogeneous relationships between English and social development.
-- Mastin Prinsloo, University of Cape Town, South Africa
This collection of essays provides useful material to highlight key questions regarding the English language and its links to, and impact on, development and pedagogical issues. Readers should come away with a better idea of the complexities that lie behind such questions, their intricate relationship with the different contexts mentioned, and their possible connections with other geographical areas and related fields in the study of language in society.
-- Josep Soler-Carbonell, University of Tartu * Linguist List 25.2301 *
Table of ContentsIntroduction – English and development in a global world: Philip Seargeant and Elizabeth J. Erling
Chapter 1 – English, development and education: Charting the tensions: Gibson Ferguson
Chapter 2 – The political economy of English language and development: English vs. national and local languages in developing countries: Naz Rassool
Chapter 3 – Political perspectives on language policies and development in Africa: Eddie Williams
Chapter 4 – Grassroots attitudes to English as a language for international development in Bangladesh: Elizabeth J. Erling, M. Obaidul Hamid and Philip Seargeant
Chapter 5 – The relationship between English-medium instruction and examining and social and economic development: A Sub-Saharan case study: Pauline Rea-Dickins, Zuleikha Kombo Khamis and Federica Olivero
Chapter 6 – Proficiency in English as a key to development? Helping teachers to help learners to succeed: Martin Wedell
Chapter 7 – An invitation to the feast: Voice and choice in English as a lingua franca: Tom Bartlett
Chapter 8 – HIV/AIDS education, digital literacy, and English language learning in Uganda: Bonny Norton, Shelley Jones and Daniel Ahimbisibwe
Chapter 9 – Language policy in Singapore: Singlish, national development and globalization: Lionel Wee
Chapter 10 – English, scientific publishing and participation in the global knowledge economy: Theresa Lillis and Mary Jane Curry
Chapter 11 – Language in economic development: Is English special and is linguistic fragmentation bad?: Jean-Louis Arcand and François Grin
