LINGUISTICS AND THE MYTH OF NATIVITY - COMMENTS ON THE CONTROVERSY OVER NEW NON-NATIVE ENGLISHES/

This paper is an attempt to take a fresh look at the controversy over the theoretical status of the so-called 'new/non-native' Englishes (Jo P 24(3) 1995). I argue that, when all is said and done, what the parti cipants in the debate do succeed in foregrounding is the untenability of the category called 'native speaker' in the world of practical affa irs. I also suggest that the frequent and unquestioning appeal to the category may turn out to be motivated by an insidious ideological agen da (albeit, hopefully unwittingly entertained by those who defend it).