Among those teaching English in the Czech Republic, there’s said to be rivalry between Americans and Brits. Some Brits believe that theirs is the only authentic English. After all, the language originated on their island. But the Brits did not stay home; they spread English to every corner of the globe, and they lost control. The Englishes of India, Australia, and North America are all somewhat different, though for the most part mutually intelligible. Such varieties of a language are termed dialects.
Which of these is the “real” English? In a way they all are. Languages change to reflect the experience of their speakers. New words are added, and sounds change.
English is very malleable. Unlike French, we have no scholarly academy to decide how our language is to be changed. The English speaking public decides on what new words and idioms to adopt. We do it by consensus. No one said it better than Ralph Waldo Emerson:
“Language is a city to the building of which every human being contributed a stone.”
Below: Linguistic map of English usage. The dark blue indicates regions where English is typically a first language. Pale blue indicates secondary usage of English. There are also many "third tier" or "expanding circle" areas where English is used as a language of commerce or international communication.
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