Like World English, Rajagopalan understands “a língua falada hoje por quase um terço dos seres humanos nos quatro cantos deste planeta (com quase o mesmo número de pessoas aprendendo a língua ao redor do mundo), não faz sentido falar em falantes nativos... pertence a todos aqueles que dela fazem algum uso no seu dia a dia, por mais limitado ou restrito que ele seja (como consultar biografias, ouvir músicas, ler manuais de instrução etc.)”
According to the author, “eles na verdade, terão de se adaptar à nova realidade e, em muitos caos, aprender novas formas de falar e ouvir.” Rajagopalan, 2009, p. 42.
Therefore, the author expresses that native speakers have their place in the World English phenomenon, but, it’s not a preferential, because they are not the language owners.
Taking into account the social practices and power relationship that are established in and through the language, do you agree with Rajagopalan about the English native speakers currently situation?
RAJAGOPALAN, K. (2009). “O inglês como língua internacional na prática docente”. In: Diógenes Cândido de Lima (org.). Ensino Aprendizagem de língua inglesa: conversas com especialistas. São Paulo: Parábola Editorial, p.39-46.
Hello everybody! I totally agree with Rajagopalan`s point of view about the current situation of the English native speakers. I`ve read somewhere that currently there are 3 non native for 1 native speaker of English. So, is it fair to say that the native speakers own the language? I dont think so. It is likely to say that we`ve got the power!!! We are the future of the English language!
ResponderExcluirHello dear friends, I'm Maria Izabel Rodrigues Tognato, but you can call me Belinha. I'm from FECILCAM, Campo Mourão, in the state of Paraná. I would like to say that I agree with the author because English language doesn't belong to English native speakers nowadays, but it belongs to the world, considering the social and cultural context we have. Thus, when speaking this language, we must consider the social and cultural differences with relation to the dialects and accents, for example. What do you think about that?
ResponderExcluirThanks.
I believe that after the communication wideness between different cultures, especially with the internet, we can start to talk about a common language... even thought it will always have differences... The main aspect here is that most of us still believe that our languages are pure and that we have a native speaker or people that know everything about their own language... but it's not true.
ResponderExcluirThe native will deal well with the language he/she uses... and of course these people will have to learn new words, new ways to express feelings. But, the most important thing they (and we, and everybody) will have to learn is that language is alive. English is having its biggest boom ever.
Ana
That is a very interesting point by Rajagopalan, and I agree with him. Thus, we as teachers and future teachers have to be aware and don't let our students think that they have to speak as natives to be considered fluent. That is a belief that might demotivate some learners.
ResponderExcluirHi everybody!
ResponderExcluirI found this video at macmillanglobal.com very interesting, and I thought it would be great for us to watch it, since it talks about the theme we are discussing here.
It is by Professor David Crystal. He discusses "whether the control of English is shifting away from British and American native speakers".
http://www.macmillanglobal.com/blog/author-blog/new-david-crystal-global-english-interview-videos
Hope you like it!
I totally agree with him because I consider everybody that speaks English are the English owner, though their nationality, countries and language.English is everybody's language.
ResponderExcluirThalita... I watched the video… and it's very interesting. David Crystal expresses our topic so clearly. When he says that if the native speaker want to get in touch with the non native ones, the non native and the native will start to influence each other... that's how language works.
ResponderExcluirNice video..thanks by your contribution.
I`m glad you enjoyed it, Ana Regina!
ResponderExcluirI totally agree with Rajagopalan. The culture of “native speaker” doesn’t exist anymore. Unfortunately some students still thinking about it, that accent is important and only natives have the standard accent.
ResponderExcluirHi everybody
ResponderExcluirTalking about Rajagopalan's point, I agree when he says that native speakers are not the language owners. But in fact, I dont agree when he enphasises that as what happens in a commentary before wich says "we have the power" because it seems like they're not the owners ,but we're gonna be! I believe that if the language is alive and if everybody constructs it, nobody is gonna be the owner.
Though i dont agree in this point, I reackon it's true when he says that native speakers dont have preferential place any longer because it's already really common...
But I have a point:
talking about accent, i remember fonology. It's one of the things a laguage is based on. With native speakers we can "check" how we can talk. If we dont do that, in a long future English might be another different language as it happened with latin. In this case, the speakers chose different ways to speak till the "Latim vulgar" and finnaly it become others different languages.
Maybe it's a contradition... but the thruth is i've got confused!
Hi everybody! I totally agree with the author about the English native speakers currently situation, because for me a native speaker is one who can speak the language well enough and clearly so that he or she can be understood by the others. Considering that language is something alive, people who speak any language will suffer influence from others and vice versa, even the ones who live in a country whose mother tongue is English. So, is there any guarantee that a person born in an English speaking country (which country?) will be a native speaker?
ResponderExcluirIn short, Rajagopalan makes us think about an important point: what English should we teach or learn? The answer must be: the world english. This is awesome, isn`t it?
Well, as all of you I agree with Rajagopalan because as English has become a "world language" it does not belong to a specific group of speakers anymore. The whole world speaks English, even with different accent and, of course, representing a different culture.
ResponderExcluirBut students still relate English language only to England and the United States, forgetting the other countries that also speak English as a native language, the countries that speak English as a second language and the other ones that speak English as a foreign language. Maybe it is an important point to discuss with them and make them reflect about the English language in the actual world.
Well...
ResponderExcluirI don't know if I can really "agree"... Languages are free to change, to develop, and WE can change the languages through the time and space. As you know, guys, we live in a modern world, where all the languages are starting to walk "hands in hands", so... they do not have an owner.
I agree with the author, because to be a good speaker you needn't be native. In my opinion today the non-native, also may be so good as the native speaker.I think that sometimes the non-native speaks better than the native,and they speak more clearly.
ResponderExcluirHi people!!
ResponderExcluirI agree with Rajagopalan when he says a language belong to one who needs it. Before I though that English was only from United States and Britain, but now I have more contact with English and I see that it is a native language in India, Jamaica, Australia, British Guiana, South Africa as well.
Their English has differences in relation to American and British English, but it’s not bad or wrong it’s only different and they are native speakers. When I began to study English I prefered American or British and I didn’t consider the others. Once I was watching an Australian movie and they say “g’day” instead of good morning, other day a Jamaican singer saying “gal” instead of girl. Now I’ve learned there is no perfect or standard English, there are variants and all them are important.
In my point of view the English Language belong to the world and the world contributes to rich it every day more.
Hi!
ResponderExcluirWell, I agree with him. English is the universal language nowadays, it belongs to all people. In fact, it is not only a language anymore, it is the means that connect people from all over the world. I think it's important to notice that so many people use English everyday, even in simple things, because then we can see how much English in present in our lives, and how much we need it to be part of the new world.
=)
Hello everybody!!!!!!!!!!!
ResponderExcluirIn my opinion, an English native speakers cannot be a referential for a foreing language student, because I think they do not know about their language more than a non native who is studying or studied this one.
you know...There are many different kinds of English, due many countries to speak this language, in this case there are different accents, then a foreing language student do not know how is right and how the English became a universal language, the native speakers are not the language owners.
I agree with the author because every day people makes use of the English language. In the globalized world we live in is very common to use the English language as it is in personal relations as trade relations or politics.
ResponderExcluirI agree with Rajagopalan. Since English is a world language, the native speakers aren't the owners of it. However, I also agree with Maiane when she says about the fonology and the importance of "checking' how the native speakers talks.
ResponderExcluirThe native speakers are not the language owners, nevertheless they need attention, because since the english is the fist language of the world , the people need to learn even to to get work!
ResponderExcluirBianca Magalhães Wolff.
Hello!
ResponderExcluirI agrre with Rajagopalan.
I'm quite convinced that English is the universal language. Nowadays, English belongs to people that use the language. The phenomenon of internet is responsible by this advance. So, English is for the world and ins't only native speaker.
Generally speaking, I think that world English is similar to Portuguese in Brazil. It is as diversified and with several dialects. In my opinion world English is similar, because it has several pronunciations and in each cowntry receives cultural influences.
Mary- UFMT/Rondonópolis
I agree to Rajagopalan. English is a universal language and therefore will also change depending on the context in which it is being used. This does not mean that there can be no speakers who seek to approach the maximum of the native language. Rather, I believe that "good" speakers can come from anywhere.
ResponderExcluirI agree after the English do not have owner as well as nor another language.
ResponderExcluirCamilla Nobre Santana.
Hello!
ResponderExcluirI'm student at UESC - Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus/BA. I agree with the Rajagopalan when he says that the English is the most spoke language in the world. Many countries, including Brazil, have English Language as a second language and their speakers learn each time more grammar rules, but the dialects, the accents and the native language insert a new form to speak, "private"! The language is alive!
I agree to Rajagopalan.
ResponderExcluir