Question Details

Todd Kachru in “Three Circles of English” observes that English speaking countries are separated into three groups.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Options

A

Central Circle, Middle Circle and Peripheral Circle

B

Primary Circle, Secondary Circle and Tertiary Circle

C

Inner Circle, Outer Circle and Expanding Circle

D

Inner Circle, Middle Circle and Outer Circle

Correct Answer :

Inner Circle, Outer Circle and Expanding Circle

Solution :

The correct option is Inner Circle, Outer Circle and Expanding Circle.

Explanation:
Linguist Braj Kachru proposed the "Three Circles of English" model in 1985 to describe the global diffusion, acquisition, and functional use of the English language. His model organizes English-using countries and societies into three concentric circles:

1. The Inner Circle: This represents the traditional historical bases of English, where the language is spoken as a native or primary language (L1). Examples include the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
2. The Outer Circle: This comprises countries where English was introduced during colonial periods and has become institutionalized as a second language (L2) in multilingual settings. It is often used in official contexts such as government, law, and education (e.g., India, Nigeria, Singapore, and the Philippines).
3. The Expanding Circle: This includes countries where English has no colonial history or official status but is learned as a foreign language (EFL) for international communication, business, and science (e.g., China, Japan, Germany, and Brazil).

Thus, the three groups observed in this model are the Inner Circle, the Outer Circle, and the Expanding Circle.

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