As the most widespread global language, English now has substantially more second and foreign-language speakers than native speakers. It is increasingly spreading beyond an ‘educated elite’ of academics, politicians, business professionals and the like, among speakers with limited access to formal education, that is at the grassroots of societies. Bringing together international contributors, this book explores uses of English in a variety of grassroots multilingual contexts, drawing on a diverse range of experiences, such as motorcycle taxi drivers, market vendors, cleaners, hotel staff, tour ... More

As the most widespread global language, English now has substantially more second and foreign-language speakers than native speakers. It is increasingly spreading beyond an ‘educated elite’ of academics, politicians, business professionals and the like, among speakers with limited access to formal education, that is at the grassroots of societies. Bringing together international contributors, this book explores uses of English in a variety of grassroots multilingual contexts, drawing on a diverse range of experiences, such as motorcycle taxi drivers, market vendors, cleaners, hotel staff, tour guides, migrant domestic workers, refugees and asylum seekers. Divided into three parts, the book explores the spread of English in former areas of British domination including Africa and the East, in trade and work migration, and in forced migration by refugees. The chapters present cutting edge case studies which draw on spoken data from Bahrainis, South Africans, Tanzanians, Ugandans, Bangladeshis in the Middle East, Italians in the UK, Indians in the US, and Nigerians and Syrians in Germany. This important and innovative volume presents a first documentation of world Englishes at the grassroots of societies and an empirical basis for their further study and theorising by integrating Englishes at the grassroots into existing models of English.