English in Southeast Asia - Ee Ling Low

This volume provides a first systematic, comprehensive account of English in Southeast Asia (SEA) based on current research by leading scholars in the field. The volume first provides a systematic account of the linguistic features across all sub-varieties found within each country. It also has a section dedicated to the historical context and language planning policies to provide a background to understanding the development of the linguistic features covered in Part I and, finally, the vibrancy of the sociolinguistic and pragmatic realities that govern actual language in use in a wide variety of domains such as the law, education, popular culture, electronic media and actual pragmatic encounters are also given due coverage. This volume also includes an extensive bibliography of works on English in SEA, thus providing a useful and valuable resource for language researchers, linguists, classroom educators, policy makers and anyone interested in the topic of English in SEA or World Englishes as a whole.

This volume provides a comprehensive overview of English in Southeast Asia by going beyond a sheer description of its linguistic features, placing these varieties in their historical and language policy context and describing their current use in the social context. By doing this, the editors have produced a volume that provides readers with a robust view of the current use of English in Southeast Asia. They also provide readers with an up-to-date bibliography that allows readers to further develop their understanding of these varieties. This is a must read volume for anyone who wishes to gain a solid overview of the present use of English in Southeast Asia.
Sandra Lee McKay, Professor Emeritus, San Francisco State University

[...] the book succeeds in its goals fairly well; it provides many insights into the evolving role of Englishes in SEA and addresses the various problems from the grassroots level of everyday interactions and language teaching up to the administration level. The information provided in the volume will be of great use to students, scholars and English teachers interested in WE in the Asian context. Since the book also discusses the outcomes of the language policies of many SEA countries, it may prove to be useful as well for people working on language policy issues.
Hanna Parviainen, University of Tampere, in World Englishes 32(2): 279-292, 2013

This diverse and well-structured book does much to advance our understanding of English in Southeast Asia.
Stephen J. Hall, Sunway University, Malaysia, in RECL Journal 45(1): 101-106, 2014

This co-edited book is extremely timely and topical given the extent of the use of English in Southeast Asia (ESEA) as a lingua franca unifying the different ethnic groups in the region. The volume is also exceptional in comprising contributions from a range of newer and more established scholars in the field. Its chapters both showcase the latest research on linguistic features of ESEA varieties, and provide English language policy updates that draw on primary sources. In addition, an entire section is dedicated to language in use in a wide variety of domains including the law, education, popular culture, electronic media and actual pragmatic encounters. The extensive and comprehensive bibliography, meanwhile, provides a rich resource for all who are interested in doing research on ESEA varieties. This book will prove an invaluable resource to language researchers, linguists, classroom educators, policy makers and anyone interested in the topic of English in Southeast Asia.
Jennifer Jenkins, Chair Professor, University of Southampton

The importance of this book cannot be overestimated. With contributions from ASEAN scholars as well as scholars of English as a lingua franca in ASEAN, the value of this book lies in the fact that it maintains a good balance in its presentation of not only the features of English in Southeast Asia, but also the language policy for and the use of English in this region of 600 million people. There is no other book on the topic that can match up in terms of either the systematicity and/or comprehensiveness in the coverage of this subject, English in Southeast Asia. This volume will benefit researchers, educators and students both in the knowledge that needs to be gained to carry out further research on English in Southeast Asia and in the approach that can be employed to achieve this purpose.
Anne Pakir, Associate Professor, National University of Singapore

The coverage of topics discussed is impressive, ranging from linguistic features of local Englishes in Southeast Asia through language policies to sociolinguistic investigations of actual language use in various social contexts. The work conducted here is a major step forward with potentially significant implications for future studies on bilingual brains, second language learning, curriculum planning, and national language policies [...] the volume provides an excellent contribution to English in Southeast Asia with research by leading scholars.
Yosuke Sato, National University of Singapore, on Linguist List 23-553, 2012