Global English Explained Through Kachru’s Model

The linguist Braj Kachru came up with one of the most well known models about how English is used around the world. His idea shows how English spread between different countries and how people use the language in their daily lives. The model is called The Three Circles of English.

The Inner Circle

The inner circle includes countries where English is spoken as a native language. People in these countries grow up speaking English at home, school, and work, as it is their mother tongue. Countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia are in this circle.

These countries are known as norm providing, which means they set the standards for English. Other countries often follow their rules when learning or teaching the language.

The Outer Circle

The outer circle includes countries that use English as a second language. These countries usually have their own native languages, but because of colonisation, they started using English for education, government, and business.

Countries like India, Nigeria, and Singapore fall into this category. They’re called norm developing because even though they don’t follow native English exactly, they’re creating their own ways of using the language.

The Expanding Circle

The expanding circle includes countries where English is seen as a foreign language. People in these countries mainly use English to communicate internationally, especially in business, travel, or education.

Examples of expanding circle countries include Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Russia. These are known as norm dependent, meaning they usually follow the rules and standards set by the inner circle countries.

Limitations of the Model

Even though Kachru’s model is useful, it has some limitations. For example, things can change over time. A country that once saw English as a foreign language might now use it every day in schools and offices. Also, the model doesn’t look closely at the different ways English is used within each country. It’s a simplified view that misses some of the real-life complexity.

References

Kachru, B.B. 1985, 'Standards, codification and sociolinguistic realism: The English language in the outer circle', in R. Quirk & H.G. Widdowson (eds), English in the World: Teaching and Learning the Language and Literatures, Cambridge University Press, viewed 19 June 2025, (Link).