Kachru's Concentric Circles

Kachru's Concentric Circles describe the global spread of English through three main groups. The first, the Inner Circle, includes countries where English is a native language, like the UK and the US. The Outer Circle has nations where English is widely used officially or socially but not the native language, such as India or Nigeria. The Expanding Circle comprises countries where English is learned as a foreign language, like China or Japan. This model helps explain different levels of English usage and influence worldwide, reflecting historical, social, and political factors shaping its spread and role in various regions.