Abstract

The global use of English around the world and the impact of the number of non-native speakers as opposed to native speakers of the language, raise a myriad of questions regarding the ownership of the language and the development of standards and norms for its use in a global context. Up to now, most teaching and learning of pronunciation by language users and language professionals has been based on descriptions of the standards of native-speaker use, without taking into account successful use of the language in the larger domain of an international context. In this respect, English has become an intra-nationally intelligible language for all of its users, regardless of their “status” as native or non-native speakers. The challenge that we now face in this respect is to find and establish clear international norms for the pronunciation of English in this global scenario. This paper will by no means put forward a solution to this intricately complex problem, but it will propose some ideas and concepts that all language professionals must take into account.