ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book offers important insights into aspects such as the input available to Singaporean children, viz. the different manifestations of linguistic characteristics found in this highly polyglossic context, in which not only a variety of different languages but also different “versions” of the English language coexist. It discusses the theoretical implications the study yields for both of the major linguistic paradigms involved, viz. for World Englishes and First Language Acquisition research. The few existing empirical studies often focus only on individual aspects of the wider phenomenon or approach the topic from a strongly educational perspective. Both in the United Kingdom and in the United States, such “new” L1 speakers are to be found as the result of massive migration waves from the former colonies or from neighboring countries such as Mexico.
