| Euro English | |
|---|---|
| English | |
| Native to | European Union |
| Region | Europe |
| Ethnicity | Europeans |
Early forms | |
| Latin (English alphabet) Unified English Braille | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | - |
| Glottolog | - |
| IETF | en-EU |
Euro English, is a proposed variety of English, that may be emerging in continental Europe, though its existence as a distinct variety remains debated. Much like American English or British English, it has been described as a possible regional variety, though it is not currently recognised by the ISO or the Glottolog. [1] [2] [3]
Following the establishment of the European Union, English became the most spoken language in Europe. [4] The shift in favour of English was the result of the Enlargement of the European Union. English was the second most common language for the new members. [5] In addition to this, the Erasmus Programme, the Schengen Area, and the customs union created a group of mobile young people who needed a lingua franca to communicate across Europe. English filled that role. [6] [7] [8]
In 2006, many academics rejected the idea that Euro English existed as an independent variety of English. [9] [10]
In 2012, a study on Erasmus students, found that there was still not enough evidence to conclude Euro English constituted an independent variety. [11] The linguist Forche would write: 'The question whether the appropriation of English by non-native speakers in Continental Europe is giving rise to a potential European variety of English has not yet been resolved.' [12]
In 2017, the Unicode Common Locale Data Repository Project had defined "en-150" for Euro English. [13]
Some academics argue that the UK's withdrawal in early 2020 could allow the other Romance languages to have more of an influence on a Euro English. [14]
In 2021, the linguist Mannoni claimed that the English used in European Union law is a hybrid language distinct from British English. [15]
Today, Euro English mostly reflects British/Irish English. At the institutional level, the European Union primarily employs British/Irish English as its standard written form. Official style guides specify British/Irish spelling and usage (for example, labour rather than labor, defence rather than defense). [16] In 2019, a study of German and Swedish teachers found that they would not welcome the use of a unified Euro English. [17]
However, there is some speculation that the variety may evolve. Some speakers may drop the third person singular suffix (-s): he often call meetings. Others use the progressive aspect with stative predicates: I'm coming from Spain instead of I come from Spain. Some give words a plural with a final s: informations and competences. However, it is unclear whether these will be widely adopted. [2] [18] [19] [3]