The Englishes of Popular Culture

The Englishes of Popular Culture
by Andrew Moody
Presented by
Sweet Justine A Quijano
Overview
Andrew Moody's article "Englishes of the
Popular Culture" delves into the intricate
relationship between the English language
and global popular culture. It explores how
English, in its diverse forms, permeates various
media, from films and music to social media
and digital platforms. This pervasive presence
of English not only reflects but also shapes
cultural identities and linguistic practices across
different regions. By examining localized
varieties of English, the phenomenon of code-
switching, and the role of youth in driving
linguistic innovation, Moody's article provides a
nuanced understanding of how pop culture
What is Popular Culture?
Popular or pop culture is defined as the set of
ideas, practices, and phenomena that are
prevalent in mainstream society at a given
time. It encompasses a wide range of activities
and interests, including music, movies,
television shows, fashion, slang, and social
media trends. Pop culture is characterized by its
widespread appeal and accessibility, often
reflecting and shaping societal values, norms,
and identities. It is dynamic and constantly
evolving, influenced by and influencing various
forms of media and communication.
Horizontal and
Vertical Dimensions
The analysis of English in pop
culture can be divided into
horizontal (across cultures,
languages, nations, and
regions) and vertical (across
different pop culture genres
like TV, cinema, music)
dimensions.
What is meant by 'vertical flow'
in the context of popular
culture?
Vertical flow refers to the movement of
content, performers, and linguistic
forms within and across different genres
and media within popular culture. It
highlights how elements from one medium,
such as music, can influence and appear in
other media like film or advertising (Jameson,
1991).
How does Jennifer Hudson's
career exemplify the vertical
integration of popular culture
media?
Jennifer Hudson's transition from American
Idol contestant to Oscar-winning actress and
Grammy-winning singer illustrates how
performers can move fluidly across music,
television, and film, showcasing the
interconnected nature of popular culture
media.
Example of vertical flow in popular culture
involving a music advertisement crossover
Coca-Cola's 1971 'Hilltop' ad featured a popular song that

became a hit in its own right, demonstrating how music used in
advertising can cross over into mainstream popularity and
influence popular culture beyond its original context (Coca-Cola
Company, 2009).
What characterizes 'horizontal flow' in
the study of popular culture?
Horizontal flow refers to the transnational movement of

performers, content, and linguistic forms across different
cultures and societies. It emphasizes how popular culture
products and influences can spread beyond national
boundaries, as seen in adaptations of television formats
like American Idol into various international versions
(Zhou and Moody, 2017).
How has globalization impacted
the horizontal flow of popular
culture, particularly in music
genres like hip-hop?
Globalization has enabled the horizontal spread

of hip-hop music, influencing linguistic practices
such as rhyming and lyrical styles in languages
ranging from Japanese to Italian, demonstrating
the global impact of African-American Language
(Alim, 2009).
Example of horizontal flow
influencing linguistic features in
popular culture outside of music
The adoption of African-American English (AAE)
features into various languages and cultures
through hip-hop music illustrates how linguistic
forms can horizontally influence popular culture
globally, shaping not only music but also
literature, film, and other media (Pennycook,
2007).
Role of English in Pop
Culture
English serves as a medium for
expressing cultural identities and
creating new forms of communication
in pop culture.
Influence of Media
Media plays a critical role in shaping and
spreading different varieties of English,
enhancing the global reach of pop culture
phenomena.
Linguistic Innovation
Pop culture often introduces and popularizes
new words, phrases, and linguistic styles,
contributing to the evolution of English.
Authenticity and Authority
The tension between using standard English for authority
and nonstandard English for authenticity is a common
theme in media and pop culture.
Cultural Transmission
Pop culture acts as a vehicle for cultural
transmission, allowing English to be a bridge
between different cultural expressions and
audiences.
Pop Culture Genres
Different genres within pop culture, such as
hip-hop, K-pop, and Hollywood movies,
have their unique linguistic features and
ways of using English
What is the distinction
between 'Englishes of popular
culture' and 'English in
popular culture'?
The distinction lies in ownership and focus:
'Englishes of popular culture' refer to
specialized, genre-specific varieties within pop
culture that regulate language distinct from
broader speech communities. Conversely,
'English in popular culture' examines varieties
as they exist within society at large, often
using unscripted data to reflect natural
language use within specific genres.
How does the concept of 'language
crossing' apply to the study of English in
popular culture?
'Language crossing' refers to the appropriation of dialect

features from different groups within popular culture. For
instance, the adoption of African-American English by non-African-
American speakers in contexts like hip-hop music demonstrates
identity performance and cultural influence.
What are some examples of the
global impact of English in popular
culture?
Examples include the use of English in

multinational media formats like Bollywood films or
Korean pop music, where English serves as a
contact language reflecting global cultural trends.
This usage often differs significantly from how
English is used in everyday speech within those
societies.
How does the portrayal of
language in Disney animated
films (Lippi-Green, 1997) reflect
broader societal attitudes and
stereotypes?
Lippi-Green's study reveals that Disney films
often stereotype characters based on
language variety, associating non-native
varieties with negative roles. This portrayal
reflects and perpetuates societal biases
through linguistic representation in popular
culture.
Examples
• J-Pop Music: The use of English in Japanese pop music, such as in
Utada Hikaru's songs, illustrates the blend of English and Japanese in
popular culture.
• Anime and Manga: The incorporation of English in Japanese anime

and manga, such as in "Naruto" and "One Piece", shows the global
reach and influence of English.
• K-Pop Music: Korean pop music frequently incorporates English

lyrics and titles, as seen in songs by BTS and Blackpink, making it
accessible to a global audience.
• Hollywood Films: The dominance of English-language films in global

cinema, with movies like "Avengers: Endgame" and "Avatar" being
Examples
• Video Games: Popular video games like "Fortnite" and "League of
Legends" often use English as the primary language, reflecting its
status as a lingua franca in gaming communities.
• Social Media: The widespread use of English on social media

platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, where users from
different linguistic backgrounds interact in English.
• Reality TV Shows: English reality TV shows such as "American Idol"

and "The Voice" have international versions, influencing pop culture
globally.
Examples
• Fashion: The use of English in fashion branding and marketing, with
brands like Nike and Adidas having a global presence.
• Sports: The popularity of English in international sports, with events

like the Olympics and FIFA World Cup using English as a common
language.
• Literature and Comics: The translation and popularity of English-

language books and comics, such as "Harry Potter" and Marvel
comics, in various countries.
Conclusion
Linguistic data from popular culture have traditionally been overlooked within
the discipline of sociolinguistics. Although it is not always clear to what degree
pop culture data accurately represent linguistic forms and features in a speech
community, since 2000 linguists have increasingly turned to media-related and
pop culture data for insights into linguistic phenomena. Data can certainly
illustrate the role that English may take in a popular culture, but a more difficult
task is to understand the possible roles that Englishes of popular cultures
perform. To the degree that popular culture relies upon connections between
very different media, a two-dimensional model of popular culture illustrates the
manner in which performers, content, and linguistic features may flow either
horizontally from one language or speech community to another or vertically
Conclusion
This two-dimensional model, therefore, necessitates that popular culture data be

multicultural (forming a kind of intercultural communication) and that they also
usually be multimodal. To the extent that English is associated with the global
spread of popular culture, English forms and functions can easily travel
horizontally across different cultures (i.e. intercultural communication) and
vertically within a popular culture (i.e. multimodal communication). In this way,
the spread of popular culture not only distributes performers and content, but it
also encourages the flow of English and various linguistic forms into a mosaic of
Englishes of popular cultures.
Thank you!

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The Englishes of Popular Culture

Coca-Cola's 1971 'Hilltop' ad featured a popular song that

Horizontal flow refers to the transnational movement of

Globalization has enabled the horizontal spread

'Language crossing' refers to the appropriation of dialect

Examples include the use of English in

• Anime and Manga: The incorporation of English in Japanese anime

• K-Pop Music: Korean pop music frequently incorporates English

• Hollywood Films: The dominance of English-language films in global

• Social Media: The widespread use of English on social media

• Reality TV Shows: English reality TV shows such as "American Idol"

• Sports: The popularity of English in international sports, with events

• Literature and Comics: The translation and popularity of English-

This two-dimensional model, therefore, necessitates that popular culture data be

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