Commonwealth English: Difference between revisions
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'''Commonwealth English''' is a blanket term for the [[English language|English]] that developed during the [[British Empire]] | '''Commonwealth English''' is a blanket term for the [[English language|English]] that developed during the [[British Empire]] after the [[United States of America]] started developing the language separately. Thus it is the [[British English|English]] of the [[United Kingdom]] and that variety's development in the [[Commonwealth]] nations, such as [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], [[South Africa]], [[India]], [[Pakistan]], [[Bangladesh]], [[Nepal]], [[Sri Lanka]] and the [[Caribbean English|Caribbean]]. Those places use [[British English]] as their ancestral model - in contrast to [[Canada]], whose English is a variety of [[American English]]. Also to be considered outside the definition are [[Irish English]], as the [[Ireland (state)|Republic of Ireland]] is not a member of the Commonwealth, and [[Mozambican English]]. [[Mozambique]] does not have English as the colonial language: it was part of the [[Portuguese Empire]], and only joined the Commonwealth in 1996. | ||
Revision as of 10:24, 31 August 2008
Commonwealth English is a blanket term for the English that developed during the British Empire after the United States of America started developing the language separately. Thus it is the English of the United Kingdom and that variety's development in the Commonwealth nations, such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Caribbean. Those places use British English as their ancestral model - in contrast to Canada, whose English is a variety of American English. Also to be considered outside the definition are Irish English, as the Republic of Ireland is not a member of the Commonwealth, and Mozambican English. Mozambique does not have English as the colonial language: it was part of the Portuguese Empire, and only joined the Commonwealth in 1996.