The study of World Englishes has seen a revolutionary shift during the last twenty years. Before 1980, there was a general assumption within Britain, the United States and many other societies where English was taught, that the primary target was the 'Standard English' of Britain. However, during the 1980s interest grew in the identification and description of global varieties of English, marking a shift in focus from 'English' to 'Englishes'.

This collection covers the full range of differing academic traditions within the subject and also addresses current theoretical approaches to the field. It provides students and researchers with instant access to the key articles and theories on the subject, and is completed by a new introduction from the editors.