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How many english speaking dialects are there in apac ?
Hello there and thank you for your question regarding the number of English speaking dialects within APAC. The two most useful resources I found are academic papers on the study of English in Bangladesh, and other reports on major dialects. The short answer is that English dialects may form and stem in different manners from the first language of the speaker. In many of these countries English is a second or third language, and often comes only by residing in urban areas or with affluent socio-economic status. Below we'll take a deep dive at my findings.
METHODOLOGY
I found two authoritative lists of countries within the APAC region and listed countries found on both since lists can vary. Using a database, I cross listed the potential English dialects tracked by this website. However I found that these samples don't necessarily correlate with a hard, distinguishable dialect and are simply samples. I attempted to find other sources to make sure these are sound estimates, but even so there were no solid descriptions. I then included estimates based on the following for each country based on the major dialects recognized in mother tongues that would influence learning English. This being from a study that Bangladesh dialects and differences in English were identified from regional mother and first languages that shared little in ways of common mistakes in English.
A typical Wonder list accounts for up to 10 items. Since I could not find a pre-compiled list of dialects in each country and each needed special digging, I've listed the number of dialects presumably for Australia-Japan. You are welcome to submit further requests so that we may continue building your list for you.
A total of 36 countries were listed by at least two separate sources. The estimations below are based on summaries and assumptions outlined below.
Australia 3
Bangladesh 8
Bhutan 13-19
Brunei (Unknown)
Cambodia 1
China 7
Fiji 2
India 9
Indonesia 4
Japan 7
AUSTRALIA
This country is noted for it's unique lack of dialect, instead the country has a wider diversity of vocabulary. A review of Dr Michael Carey's work, a linguist scholar in Australia, says that there aren't really regional dialects. Simply the country has either rural or urban ways of speaking. Even the Department of Linguistics at MacQuire University doesn't list a solid number. I attempted to follow up with their link to a Word Map but it's inactive. Finally I found one source which categorized the dialects at 3.
BANGLADESH
At best I could find a case of 8 different dialects of English. However this is based on a study sample size that from 8 different regions of Bangladesh. The paper concluded that each region faced varying difficulties with the adoption and pronunciation of English. In fact " Most of the teachers (90%) and students (80%) think that regional accent has an influence on their English accent." This is probably as such, a conservative guess.
BHUTAN
There are 3 languages spoken throughout Bhutan: Dzongkha, Sharchopka, and English. An estimated 13-19 accents and dialects are throughout the country although these are based off of informal measures. Since English is the mode of instruction in most schools, as well as written for all road signs and government documents. Therefore we could potentially assume 13-19 types of dialects when students adapt English.
BRUNEI
There were no definitive numbers on the types of regional dialects for English in Brunei. I did however find books, papers, and there is evidence of other research done on English in Brunei. The mix of immigration, regional dialects of both Malaysian and Chinese, as well as influence of Arabic from the national religion of Islam are sure to make this country rich in English dialects. However, no source concluded or allowed an estimation of a hard number.
CAMBODIA
English is spoken mostly only in urban areas. At the moment an estimated 79.28 % of the population lives in rural areas. Most English is spoken exclusively within urban areas. While the main language is Khmer, there is no definitive list of dialects for regions in urban areas. Even so, other dialects may be linked to various socio-economic agency that may limit or lend themselves to the ability to learn English. Phnom Penh, the capital city, is considered in having a Khmer dialect within itself, so we could potentially assume one English dialect. Rural areas are noted for not utilizing or knowing English.
CHINA
Estimates put a total of 10 million English speakers and approximately 300 million English learners within China. Still proficiency is rather low, and the need to learn English is smoldered against the fact that China's large economy is pretty self reliant unto itself. However there is a concurrent agreement across sources that there are 7 distinct, large dialects. Each dialect encompasses provinces with major cities, business centers, and invariably some sort of English learning for students and businessmen. This could potentially translate into 7 types of English dialects given variances in English adoption. Although further sub-categorizations could put this number in the hundreds, easily.
FIJI
The most popular language is Fijian, and is the most notable first language of the population. Second is Hindi, which comprises of most of the Indian population on this island. English is a national language, although recent debates and critics have noted the degradation in quality of English use and teaching on the language. This lends itself to two distinct dialects and adaptions of English, although the island has potentially 300 of its own dialects.
INDIA
The country is vast, and English has a politically charged as well as socio-economically sensitive presence. For some it is a mere extension of the cost of a global economy but one professor argues it is a language of the elite. He recognizes 8 major languages but the spread of these come from far and wide with dialects of their own. There are other resources on the study of Indian English given the language has spread across the nation since the 1600s. Along with the 8 major native languages which may form distinct dialects and mix of words, we should also include British English which is taught at more exclusive and elite schools as a left over from colonization efforts making 9 dialects.
INDONESIA
Indonesia is home to a variety of ethnic groups and thousands of dialects that remain due to the largely geographically isolated nature of the islands. However English is mostly widespread across the island of Java, and Bali. The first as the center of trade and international influence, the second as a major tourist hub which caters to the English community. Java is made up of mostly Javanese and Sundanese speaking ethnic groups, along with Christian and Catholic Chinese ethnicity groups. The Chinese Indonesian population are regarded for their above normal wealth, as well as access to English education. Balinese have their own dialect that reaches throughout several other neighboring islands as well. A conservative guess would make those with access to English learning at a total of 4 different English dialects shaped by mother languages attained first. Although each group does share and speak Indonesian as the common language, this is often a second language and ethnicity can be traced given their Indonesian accent.
JAPAN
The major dialect differences here are the Tokyo-type and the Kyoto-Osaka type. It is split by a north and south division. However 7 major dialects are represented overall. This accounts for potential of 7 English dialects potentially across all English learners in Japan.
A continued list of countries would include:
Kiribati
Laos
Malaysia
Maldives
Marshall Islands
Micronesia, Federated States of
Mongolia
Myanmar
Nepal
New Zealand
North Korea
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Samoa
Singapore
Solomon Islands
South Korea
Sri Lanka
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
Vietnam
CONCLUSION
To wrap it up, each country generally has a concentration of English in urban areas. They are largely influenced by the potential mother tongues spoken by those who learn English as a second hand language.
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