There is a new cultural phenomenon sweeping China, and, although little Western attention has been paid to its potential social implications. The name of the game is Crazy English and its purveyor is Chinese superstar Li Yang. Droves of Chinese citizens are buying into Li Yang’s program to help China rise to a position of global power by improving their spoken English. Li tells his audiences that English is the international language of commerce and foreign affairs, so let’s master it
Leading researchers in the field of spoken discourse and language teaching offer an empirically informed, issues-based discussion of the present state of research into spoken language. They address the opportunities offered by these emerging insights for language education and, specifically, for TESOL. They ask whether new data and evidence that spoken discourse is a distinctive genre will challenge existing language theories and teaching. A stimulating resource for both researchers and language teachers.
This book takes a close look at the ways that five sign languages borrow elements from the surrounding, dominant spoken language community where each is situated. It offers careful analyses of semantic, morphosyntactic, and phonological adaption of forms taken from a source language (in this case a spoken language) to a recipient signed language. In addition, the contributions contained in the volume examine the social attitudes and cultural values that play a role in this linguistic process.
