English or Englishes?

How can other disciplines such as oral history be informed by the model of World Englishes? In what ways does AI technology aid or hinder the pursuit of preserving voice and individuality? In this episode, hosts Sweta and Aieshah speak to university archivist and oral historian, Lauren Kata. They discuss their collaborative project, reflecting on the cross-disciplinary applications of postcolonial...

What is language justice? How can educators address prejudice and provide legitimacy to the full linguistic ecology of today’s society? In this episode, host Aieshah Arif speaks to Shyam Sharma, Associate Professor in the Writing and Rhetoric Program in Stony Brook University, New York. Based on his extensive experience in a multicultural community and classroom, Shyam highlights the importance of...

How are international or multilingual English language speakers perceived or categorised in English-dominant societies and institutions such as NYU? What are the complexities of using AI technologies in negotiating these stigmas? In this episode, hosts Sweta and Aieshah speak to the Writing Program at NYU. They reflect on the communicative burden of international and multilingual students when nav...

What is the role of Englishes in postcolonial communities of the expanding circle? How do language politics play in incorporating the English language into building national identity? In this episode, host Neelam Hanif speaks to Writing Program faculty member in Navarbayev University, Halle Niederman. They shed light on the evolving role of English in relation to primarily spoken Kazakh and Russia...

How are the varieties of English perceived in non-English dominant countries like China? How are the tensions between achieving “native” speaker proficiency versus clarity and accessibility navigated in the classroom? In this episode, hosts Aieshah and Sweta speak to Lin Chen and Marcel Daniels, writing faculty colleagues in NYU Shanghai. Based on their experiences, they address the differing prio...

Which variety of English does one use in a bilingual society? How do bilingual or multilingual English speakers practice creativity in navigating their communication? In this episode, host Aieshah Arif speaks to Dr Tariq Elyas, Professor of Applied Linguistics in King Abdulaziz University, KSA. Having lived and studied in the US, UK and Australia, Tariq reflects on his lived experiences upon his r...

What are the perceptions of educators who speak a variety of Englishes? Do identities become a measure for qualifications and competence to the student body? In this episode, hosts Sweta and Neelam speak to peer tutors who lead consultations with fellow NYUAD students in the Writing Center. They reflect on the impact of identities and varieties of English on the perceptions and pressure to perform...

Are there conventions of Englishes in academic publishing? What is the position of these varieties on platforms where conformity and expertise are seemingly prioritised? In this episode, host Aieshah Arif speaks to Harshana Rambukwella, visiting professor at NYU Abu Dhabi’s Literature and Creative Writing program. Speaking on his experience as associate editor of the Journal of Social Linguistics,...

Is there a standard English variety across the multicultural Gulf region? How do we as educators and immigrants to new communities actively practice cultural and linguistic awareness? In this episode, hosts Sweta and Aieshah speak to former President of TESOL Arabia Melanie Gobert. With 27 years of ESL experience in the Gulf region, Melanie addresses the role of cultural competence in mitigating l...

When did you become aware of your own variety of English? How is your English perceived by yourself and others? In this episode, host Aieshah Arif speaks to Writing Instructors and colleagues at NYU Abu Dhabi. The guests reflect on how the changing variety of English they speak plays a role in their personal and professional lives. English or Englishes? explores the perceptions, positions, influen...

What Englishes are used in the Gulf region? How do we adapt our teaching practices to the diverse and multicultural linguistic landscape of the UAE? In this episode, our hosts speak to Dr. Sarah Hopkyns, former assistant professor of applied linguistics at Zayed University Abu Dhabi and current faculty at the University of St Andrews in the UK. Sarah is the author of the book The Impact of Global...

What Englishes do we use in “formal” mass media writing? How do journalists negotiate the power dynamics of language in publishing? In part II of this episode, our hosts speak to three journalists, Kirsten Han (Singapore), Maleeha Mengal (Pakistan) and Karthik Shankar (India). The guests reflect on their navigations on the use of Englishes in their practice, and the complexities of connecting with...

What Englishes do we use in “formal” mass media writing? How do journalists speak to their multilingual audiences? In this episode, our hosts speak to three journalists, Kirsten Han (Singapore), Maleeha Mengal (Pakistan) and Karthik Shankar (India). The guests reflect on their navigations on the use of Englishes in their practice, and the complexities of connecting with their diverse audiences aro...

Is British English the “standard” form of English? But which variety of British English? In this episode, host Sweta Kumari speaks to linguist and phonologist Dr. Ranjan Sen from the University of Sheffield to discover more on the historical evolution of the English language, and how these varieties were perceived through time. English or Englishes? explores the perceptions, positions, influence a...

What are Englishes? Why are there varieties? And why do they matter? In this debut episode, meet the hosts and learn about the relevance of World Englishes and its applications in our daily lives. English or Englishes? explores the perceptions, positions, influence and impact of the diverse Englishes in a postcolonial world. Join hosts Sweta Kumari, Aieshah Arif and Neelam Hanif in conversation wi...

English or Englishes? explores the perceptions, positions, influence and impact of the diverse Englishes in a postcolonial world. Join hosts Sweta Kumari, Aieshah Arif and Neelam Hanif in conversation with speakers, writers and experts of various Englishes on decolonising the language and learning. This podcast is a product of the research project Perceptions and Positions of Postcolonial Englishe...