ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates the interplay of language variation and language change with a focus on World Englishes. A brief look at methods and insights from sociolinguistics shows how variation may acquire social meaning within a speech community and then lead to change. The chapter further discusses how to draw the line between ‘error’ and ‘innovation’ in Postcolonial Englishes. It also provides an overview of sources and processes leading to Postcolonial Englishes. A final section argues that innovations are most likely to be found in spoken language.
