A Talk on World Englishes at the Department of English

Department of English arranged a Talk on ‘World Englishes from the perspective of Language as Situated Practice: Examining English Textbooks in Bangladesh’ on October 27, 2022, at the International Conference Hall, BUBT. Dr. Obaidul Hamid, Senior Lecturer in TESOL Education, University of Queensland, Australia, was the Keynote Speaker in the event. The session was chaired by Mohammad Shawkat Ali, Chairman, Department of English.

The welcome speech was given by Prof. Syed Anwarul Huq, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Humanities. He analysed the significance of English as a global language. The Chief Guest of the program was Professor Dr. Muhammed Fayyaz Khan, Vice Chancellor of BUBT. He acknowledged the divergent varieties of English exemplifying the variations in spelling between American and British English. The faculty members and students of the department participated in the Talk. The event was hosted by Md. Sabbir Ahmed, Assistant Professor of the department.

In the Talk, Dr. Hamid focused on the native and non-native varieties of English, criticisms against world Englishes, situated view of language, and the nature and functions of English in Bangladeshi textbooks ‘English for Today’. He also promoted the idea of linguistic pluralism, and linguistic creativity, and suggested the recognition of all varieties of English. At the end, he answered the questions of the faculty members and the students. The event was a great success.