The idea that English is often referred to as a lingua franca because of its widespread use
around the world was succinctly summarized by Loreto Todd, ‘Virtually every speaker is part of a
world network and is not limited to region or country’ (Prendergast 1998: 228). It is not, however,
only academia that discusses the spread of (and sometimes the associated disadvantages) of the
internationalization of English. Governments, corporations, and the media all regularly emphasize the
importance of English, and the experiences of people from around the world lend credence to the
argument that English is currently a medium through which the world regularly communicates.
Considering the vast array of situations in which English is used, a model of English language users
provides a helpful starting point from which to examine English.
Kachru’s three concentric circles (1992) are based on English acquisition and use. In this
model, the inner circle includes areas that many foreign language learners associate with ‘native
speakers,’ including the United States and Great Britain. The outer circle incorporates countries where
English has an official status, most often because of historical factors, and English is usually studied as
a second language. Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia are examples of outer circle countries.
Finally, the expanding circle includes countries where English is recognized as an important tool in
international communication but has no official status. In these regions, English is most often taught as
a foreign language.