Point-to-Point: "Cultural English," "International English," and Language "Standards"

The recent article by Akihiko Higuchi (November, 1992), "New English

in the Education System-Focusing on Singaporean English," raised some

interesting points regarding possible future developments in the teaching of

English as a foreign language in Japan, particularly with respect to which

nonns or models of English are the most appropriate "standard" to use. The

article argues against accepting either "standard American" or "standard

British" as a model, and in their stead proposes that varieties of "New

English," such as Singaporean English, should be considered as alternatives.

It is argued that this will help to increase the sensitivity of Japanese EFL

students to other Asian cultures. Perhaps, also, such a New English will serve

as a more appropriate standard to follow until such time as Japan has

developed its own distinct form of "cultural" English.

I question the usefulness and relevance to Japanese