| Euro English | |
|---|---|
| European 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 |
| This article containsIPA phonetic symbols. Without properrendering support, you may seequestion marks, boxes, or other symbols instead ofUnicode characters. For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, seeHelp:IPA. | |
Euro English is a proposedvariety of English that may be emerging in continental Europe, though its existence as a distinct variety remains debated. Much likeBritish English orIrish English, it has been described as a possible regional variety, though it is not currently recognised by theISO or theGlottolog.[1][2][3]
Following the establishment of theEuropean Union, English became the most spoken language in Europe.[4] The shift in favour of English was the result of theEnlargement of the European Union. English was the second most common language for the new members.[5] In addition to this, theErasmus Programme, theSchengen Area, and thecustoms union created a group of mobile young people who needed alingua 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 onErasmus 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 UnicodeCommon Locale Data Repository Project had defined “en-150” for Euro English.[13]
Some academics argue that the UK’swithdrawal in early 2020 could allow theRomance languages to have more of an influence on a Euro English.[14]
In 2021, the linguist Mannoni claimed that the English used inEuropean 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 thanlabor,defence rather thandefense).[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 ofI come from Spain. Some give words a plural with a final s:informations andcompetences. However, it is unclear whether these will be widely adopted.[2][18][19][3]