Broken English

Biography & Overview

Broken English encompasses non-standard, non-traditionally spoken and alternatively-written versions of the English language. This term is often considered derogatory and has been used to invalidate non-standard or "low prestige" varieties of English, particularly those that arose in the context of colonialism or language contact between multiple distinct cultures. While it sometimes refers to any non-standard form of English, it often carries a negative connotation, implying inferiority and incorrectness compared to "standard" English.
These forms of English are sometimes considered as a pidgin if they have derived in a context where more than one language is used. Under the most commonly accepted definition of the term, broken English consists of English vocabulary grafted onto the syntax of a non-English speaker's native language, including word order, other aspects of sentence structure, and the presence or absence of articles in the speaker's native language. Typically, the no...