Commonwealth English is a collective term for the perceived standard English language used in the Commonwealth of Nations1 and many Former British Nations where English is at least a common second language. Thus it applys in theory to Australian English, British English, Caribbean English, Canadian English, Hiberno-English (Irish English)2, Hong Kong English3, Indian English (includes Pakistani English), formal Malaysian English, New Zealand English, formal Singapore English (but not colloquial Singlish) and South African English.
by theKeith April 14, 2006
Commonwealth English is the name for a mythical variety of English which is only defined as “not U.S.”, and ignores the fact that the Commonwealth of Nations is an international organization whose membership changes regularly.
There is no such distinct variety defined by either accent, vocabulary, or spelling and orthography. English within the Commonwealth of Nations is diverse – for example, Canadian English is more closely related to (U.S.) American English than to any other variety – while English dialects can cross the bounds of the Commonwealth, like Irish English, spoken in the Republic of Ireland which is left the Commonwealth a half-century ago, and in Northern Ireland a part of the United Kingdom, a charter member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
There is no such distinct variety defined by either accent, vocabulary, or spelling and orthography. English within the Commonwealth of Nations is diverse – for example, Canadian English is more closely related to (U.S.) American English than to any other variety – while English dialects can cross the bounds of the Commonwealth, like Irish English, spoken in the Republic of Ireland which is left the Commonwealth a half-century ago, and in Northern Ireland a part of the United Kingdom, a charter member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Here in Ottawa we speak and write Commonwealth English, same as in Auckland, Karachi, London, and Singapore.
by Michael Zed February 24, 2009