English Around the World Quiz

1. Approximately how many people speak English as a first, second, or foreign language worldwide?

1. Around 1.5 billion
2. Around 3 billion
3. Around 500 million
4. Around 750 million

2. What is 'Singlish'?

1. A creole English spoken in Singapore
2. A form of English used in Sri Lanka
3. A simplified English used in international business
4. The English accent of South India

3. What term describes the variety of English spoken in India, with its own vocabulary, grammar patterns, and pronunciations?

1. Anglo-Indian
2. Hindi English
3. Indian English
4. South Asian English

4. What is 'Pidgin English' or 'Pidgin'?

1. A formal variety of English used in legal contexts
2. A simplified form of English that develops between groups with no common language
3. A type of slang used by teenagers
4. The English spoken by immigrants in the first generation

5. The term 'World Englishes' was popularised by which linguist?

1. Braj Kachru
2. David Crystal
3. Noam Chomsky
4. Randolph Quirk

6. What unique feature is associated with Australian English?

1. Dropping all final consonants
2. Inserting 'eh' at the end of sentences
3. Intonation rising at the end of statements (High Rising Terminal)
4. Replacing all short vowels with long vowels

7. Which African country has the largest number of English speakers and is a major hub for African English varieties?

1. Ghana
2. Kenya
3. Nigeria
4. South Africa

8. What is 'RP' in British English?

1. Received Pronunciation — the prestige accent associated with educated Southern British speech
2. Reformed Pronunciation — modern standard British English
3. Regional Pronunciation — any non-standard accent
4. Rural Pronunciation — English spoken in countryside areas

9. What is 'General American'?

1. A broadly standard, accent-neutral form of American English
2. The accent used only in Washington D.C.
3. The official language of American broadcasting
4. The oldest form of American English

10. What distinguishes 'code-switching' in multilingual English speakers?

1. Alternating between two or more languages or varieties within a conversation
2. Avoiding English when speaking with family
3. Translating directly from one language to another
4. Using formal English in all situations

11. Which English variety introduced words like 'bungalow', 'jungle', 'pyjamas', and 'shampoo' into global English?

1. Australian English
2. Canadian English
3. Caribbean English
4. Indian English

12. What is 'Tok Pisin'?

1. A simplified English used in East Africa
2. An English variety in the Philippines
3. An English-based creole language of Papua New Guinea
4. The official language of Fiji

13. In New Zealand English, what feature distinguishes the vowel sound in words like 'fish and chips'?

1. All short vowels are lengthened
2. Short 'i' vowels are often centralised, sounding closer to 'fush and chups'
3. The accent drops all 'h' sounds
4. The vowels are identical to Australian English

14. What does 'ELF' stand for in linguistics, and why is it significant?

1. Early Language Formation
2. English as a Lingua Franca
3. European Linguistic Features
4. Extended Language Fluency

15. What is the 'Southern American English' feature called 'the pin-pen merger'?

1. Dropping all final consonants
2. Lengthening all vowels before voiced consonants
3. Pronouncing 'i' and 'e' vowels identically before nasal sounds (pin and pen sound the same)
4. Replacing 'th' with 'd' or 'f'

16. Which Caribbean English variety is most widely associated internationally, partly due to reggae music and cultural influence?

1. Barbadian English
2. Guyanese Creole
3. Jamaican Patois (Creole)
4. Trinidadian English

17. What is 'Hinglish'?

1. A blend of Hindi and English used in urban India
2. A formal variety of Hindi used in government
3. An early colonial variety of English in India
4. The English accent of Hindus

18. What does it mean for a language variety to be 'standardised'?

1. All speakers use it identically
2. It has a codified grammar, spelling, and usage norms recognised officially
3. It has no regional variation
4. It is used only by educated speakers

19. What South African English word, now known internationally, means an outdoor barbecue?

1. Biltong
2. Braai
3. Lekker
4. Ubuntu

20. What is 'language prestige' and how does it affect English varieties globally?

1. The age and historical origin of a language
2. The number of speakers a language has
3. The social status and value attached to a particular language variety
4. Whether a language has a written form