“Standardization” of Language in ELT Context

Abstract

The debate on the concept of ‘standardization’ of English as the lingua franca of the world has been a still phenomenon in spite of the dramatic transformation of the world in many other ways around. The ‘role set’ of ‘English language teaching’ includes the learners, the teachers and the organizers/facilitators/promoters of the language education programs. Every member in the ‘role set’ tends to bring forth his or her own understanding of ‘Standard English’. In view of the prevailing confusion created by the varying perceptions of the members in the ‘role set’, about the concept of Standard English, this article attempts to describe the standardization concept and provides a critique on the role of teachers in promoting ‘intelligibility’ in light of the equity drive brought forth by scholars like García, Kleifgen & Falchi (2008). Although the research based on the critical analysis of the discourse present in the existent literature takes the shape of an argumentative mode, the article maintains its objective and qualitative method in its narration.