• brian@lemmy.ca
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    2 days ago

    notably not used is where English is not a native language

    I mean, not to be blunt, but duh?

    it would only really make sense to even talk about English as a second language if the general population does speak it as a native language. in the US people arent ever going to say something like french as a second language, because there’s no need for the distinction

    • CyberEgg@discuss.tchncs.de
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      2 days ago

      But most people with English as an additional language live outside countries where English is a native language. So again, when addressing people who speak English but not as their native language, why use terms that are exclusively used in countries with English as a native language?

      Or do you think the internet exists only in countries where English is a native language?

      • trashcan@sh.itjust.works
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        2 days ago

        So again, when addressing people who speak English but not as their native language, why use terms that are exclusively used in countries whith English as anative language?

        As an English speaker in a city with many people whose first language isn’t English, it was probably just habit. I didn’t originally know it wasn’t a well known term either.

      • brian@lemmy.ca
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        1 day ago

        the likelyhood of talking about ESL (an initialization of English words to begin with) wouldnt generally happen where English is non-native, though. you don’t have two Germans asking if the other speaks English as a second language