Questão 96756

Braj Kachru's 'Three Circles' model is a highly influential paradigm for understanding the global spread and functional allocation of English. The model divides English users into the Inner Circle (where English is the native language, L1), the Outer Circle (where English has a historical and institutional role as a second language, L2), and the Expanding Circle (where English is used as a foreign language, EFL). This model, however, has faced criticism for being overly simplistic and static in a world of increasing globalization and transnational flows.

Considering the model and its critiques, analyze the following assertions:

I. The model accurately represents the proficiency of speakers, implying that speakers from the Inner Circle are inherently more competent and legitimate users of the language than those from the Outer or Expanding Circles.

II. A key function of English in the Outer Circle (e.g., India, Nigeria, Singapore) is its role as an institutionalized 'nativized' variety, used in domains such as government, law, and education, often coexisting with indigenous languages in multilingual contexts.

III. Critics argue that the model fails to account for the growing importance of English as a Lingua Franca (ELF), where communication often occurs among non-native speakers from the Expanding and Outer Circles, challenging the normative standards of the Inner Circle.

Which of the following evaluations of the assertions is correct?