Asian Englishes Today: English in Asian Popular Culture

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Linguistic research has traditionally focused on culture, yet popular culture remains underexplored. Given its widespread availability and daily consumption across various speech communities, it is essential for linguists to systematically observe and interpret the cultural and linguistic practices prevalent in everyday life. This volume examines the sociolinguistic aspects of English in Asian popular culture, a region often perceived as the exotic ‘other’ in Western discourse. It covers six domains: music, TV, film, advertising, magazines, and the Internet, across diverse Asian communities, including China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and the Philippines. English serves different functions in each domain and culture, showcasing bilingual creativity and linguistic innovation resulting from its spread in Asia. The cases presented highlight how English contributes to the formation of modern identities among progressive generations of Asians. Scholars and students in linguistics, communications, cultural studies, anthropology, and Asian studies will find valuable insights for their research. Additionally, non-academics interested in Asia and its pop culture will appreciate the accessible discussions throughout the volume.