Which claim is associated with Kandiah regarding the spread of English?

Which claim is associated with Kandiah regarding the spread of English?

• A. It spread due to religious reform.
• B. It spread due to technological invention.
• C. It spread due to globalization and trade.
• D. It spread due to colonisation and official administration.

Answer: (D)

The key idea is how language spreads through power structures. Kandiah argues that English expanded globally because it was embedded in colonial systems of governance. In colonies, English became the language used in government, law, education, and civil service. That official adoption meant English was taught, administered, and kept at the heart of public life, so it spread widely and persisted even after colonies gained independence. Other factors can influence language contact, but Kandiah highlights colonisation and official administration as the main driver of English’s global spread.

The key idea is how language spreads through power structures. Kandiah argues that English expanded globally because it was embedded in colonial systems of governance. In colonies, English became the language used in government, law, education, and civil service. That official adoption meant English was taught, administered, and kept at the heart of public life, so it spread widely and persisted even after colonies gained independence. Other factors can influence language contact, but Kandiah highlights colonisation and official administration as the main driver of English’s global spread.