PERSPECTIVES ON DIVERSITY OF ENGLISH AND ITS CURRENT USE AS A LINGUA FRANCA IN THAILAND

Abstract

In

globalization, English plays a vital role in many areas such as politics, economy, education, and tourism. Due to the expansion of English, definitions of the English language are challenging because it is diversely used by people from around the world. Many definitions of English language have been proposed such as English as an International Language, World Englishes, and English as a Lingua Franca (EFL). These proposals suggest that English nowadays cannot be reserved as the language for native English speakers (NES) only since English has been used by a various group of people. English is diverse and unique in its own context of uses. In Thai context, English language is perceived as the most important foreign language of the country. Thai people nowadays access to the diversity of English used by people from different first-language backgrounds through various channels. With the current uses of Thai people of English, Thailand may be appropriately characterized as a lingua franca context, which English is used as the main language for intercultural communication. Therefore, EFL should be taken into consideration for English teaching and learning as well. This might need to focus more on the intelligibility of conversational contexts instead of the accuracy of English grammar and NES accents and adjusting it into their own practical and acceptable manners. This article also offers recommendations which might contribute usefulness to the English teaching and learning in Thailand in the modern world.