From theory to practice
Rethinking South Asian Englishes through a multilingual lens
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 23310563 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Sreemali Herath (0000-0002-7403-7346, University of Manitoba, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 28 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 247-251 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-04 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Asian Englishes (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1348-8678 • E-ISSN: 2331-2548 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/13488678.2026.2687363 |
| OpenAlex | W7169787089 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 5 |
The global spread of the English language is now well recognised as a sociolinguistic reality that impacts educational, social, and ideological landscapes. Its implications are particularly complex in South Asia where English has been deeply embedded and is part and parcel of the region’s colonial past. In South Asia, the English language functions not merely as a lingua franca but as a socially embedded local language that occupies a unique and yet complex space. While the role of English in the globalised world positions it as a dominant and ubiquitous language, its colonial past in the region continues to be a reminder of the social inequities and tensions it persists in creating. Despite these tensions, the dominance of English has given rise to dynamic and organic varieties of English, collectively described as South Asian Englishes (SAE), that are deeply embedded in local plurilingual repertoires and communicative needs.
Global South · Lens (geology) · South asia · Through-the-lens metering · World Englishes · EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning · Linguistic Variation and Morphology · Multilingual Education and Policy
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |