The Colonial and Postcolonial Expansion of English

doi:10.1017/9781108349406.002

2 - The Colonial and Postcolonial Expansion of English

from Part I - The Making of Englishes

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 December 2019

Edited by

Marianne Hundt and

Daniel Schreier: Affiliation:
Universität Zürich
Marianne Hundt: Affiliation:
Universität Zürich
Edgar W. Schneider: Affiliation:
Universität Regensburg, Germany

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Summary

The spread of English during the colonial period (ca. 1600–1900) led to the rise of different overseas varieties. The shape of these varieties was determined by a series of factors, such as the number of settlers, the relationship of regional dialects with this group, contact with other populations, the possible existence of pidgins, and later the rise of creoles at overseas locations. In the postcolonial period, the situation changed radically with former colonies continuing on a path toward indigenous varieties with profiles of their own and with an increasing effect of transnational factors and a reorientation away from Britain-based models of English toward an America-based one.

Keywords

spread of English types of overseas English settler English dialect input regional sources feature reduction merger reallocation postcolonial scenarios

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Type: Chapter
Information: The Cambridge Handbook of World Englishes , pp. 25 - 50

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108349406.002 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2020

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