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]] separately from the [[United States of America]]. Thus it is the [[British English|English]] of [[Britain]] and the [[Commonwealth]] nations, such as [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], [[South Africa]], [[India]], [[Pakistan]], [[Bangladesh]], [[Nepal]], [[Sri Lanka]] and the [[Caribbean English|Caribbean]] | '''Commonwealth English''' is a blanket term for the [[English language|English]] that developed during the [[British Empire]] separately from the [[United States of America]]. Thus it is the [[British English|English]] of [[Britain]] 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 [[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 09:23, 30 March 2008
Commonwealth English is a blanket term for the English that developed during the British Empire separately from the United States of America. Thus it is the English of Britain 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 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.