Phonological models: ENL, ESL, EFL, EIL
Peter Trudgill
University of Fribourg
We have become familiar over the years with the fact that there are three types of polity in terms of their relationship to the English language. First, there are nation-states in which English is the, or a, native language (ENL) as it is in, say, Ireland. Secondly, there are countries where English is a foreign language (EFL), as it is in, for example, Poland. And thirdly there are places where English is a second language (ESL). In ESL countries, such as India, English typically has some kind of official status, is used as a lingua franca amongst the educated classes, and is widely employed in the education system and in the media.In her book The phonology of English as an international language (2000), Jenkins observes that English is now the most widely used lingua franca in the world, and that there are now more EFL speakers than ENL speakers. It is clear that on any given day millions of interactions now take place in non-native, lingua franca English where non-native speakers are talking to other non-native speakers. Jenkins (2000) therefore now sees the need to introduce a fourth term in addition to ENL, EFL and ESL. This is "English as an International Language" (EIL). Since EIL has become such a widespread phenomenon, Jenkins suggests that using any particular native-speaker pronunciation model as a target, and insisting on more or less total phonetic accuracy as well, is inefficient and counterproductive. I discuss this proposal in the light of the presentations of the other members of the the panel.