Which English, anyway? Teaching Linguistic Variation to Speakers of Other Languages

All instructors should dedicate a few lessons to the topic of linguistic variation in their classes. After all, this is an aspect that is being taken in consideration more and more in English language teaching, both from a linguistic, a cultural and literary point of view. Since the publication of William Labov’s influential The Logic of Non-Standard English in 1969, an increasing number of linguists have been discussing the necessity of teaching about linguistic variation. In this regard, several studies have been produced, mostly aimed at underscoring the fruitful encounters between research and pedagogical techniques (Charity Huddle & Mollinson 2014). In this contribution, I will provide some theoretical background on linguistic variation applied to English. I will also focus on the specific aspect of teaching English in Europe, particularly in Italy, and will discuss the teaching models which are being currently used.