New English(es) in Saudi Arabia: Implications for language policy
Abstract
Informed by Schneider’s (2003) “dynamic model of the evolution of new Englishes,” this study, using concrete examples and illustrations taken from archival documents, TV news, and previous studies, examines the developmental phases that contribute to the formation of what I term New Englishes in Saudi Arabia. Specifically, it explores two main questions: i) what does the phenomenon of new Englishes say about language and Saudi society today? and ii) what are the implications of new Englishes for language policy in Saudi Arabia? It argues that the concept of Saudi English (as an umbrella term), as recently described by several Saudi scholars, does not help us understand the emerging varieties of English and its fluidity across the country. The concept of New Englishes in Saudi Arabia should be employed as an analytical model to better understand the diverse varieties and ever-expanding users of English in the country. This study concludes with some implications for language policy and a call for further studies on this line of inquiry.
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