The United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union marked more than just a political shift; it subtly altered the linguistic landscape of Europe. While Brexit occurred, and with it the exit of a major English-speaking nation, predictions of English losing its prominence within the EU have proven unfounded. Despite no member state officially designating English as their primary language post-Brexit, English continues to flourish, evolving in a unique and unexpected direction. This evolution has given rise to what is known as “Euro English,” a fascinating linguistic phenomenon that’s become the working language of Brussels and beyond.
Decoding Euro English: More Than Just “Mistakes”
So, what exactly is Euro English? It’s not simply British English spoken by non-native speakers. According to Terry Reintke, a German Member of the European Parliament (MEP), Euro English is a “messy use of English” born from the necessity of cross-cultural communication. It’s characterized by direct translations from speakers’ native languages, blended with the specific jargon of European institutions. Imagine a linguistic melting pot where British English grammar intersects with French phrasing, German vocabulary structures, and a dash of bureaucratic terminology. This isn’t about grammatical errors in the traditional sense; it’s about a functional, evolving dialect tailored for a unique communicative environment.
Reintke, who experienced both British English while living in the UK and Euro English in the European Parliament, highlights some distinctive features. One common example is the pluralization of uncountable nouns like “informations,” directly mirroring French or other languages where “information” can be plural. Another is the use of “non?” as a tag question, a direct translation from French and other European languages, instead of varied English tags like “isn’t it?” or “don’t they?”. The term “home office,” used within EU circles to refer to internal administrative departments (distinct from the UK government department with the same name), further illustrates how Euro English diverges in meaning from standard British English.
“It is a little bit of a messy use of English. It’s people trying to express themselves in English but very often taking direct translations from their native languages, plus adding to that a kind of technocratic language that comes from the European institutions,” – Terry Reintke, MEP
Other examples abound within the Euro English lexicon. “Possibility” often replaces “opportunity,” reflecting the broader meaning of the French “possibilité.” Sentence structures can also shift, with constructions like “the pen of my aunt” mirroring Romance languages’ possessive forms rather than the typical English “my aunt’s pen.” Even vocabulary choices lean towards continental European usage, with “SMS” preferred over “text message” and “Handy” used instead of “mobile phone,” echoing German terminology. The phrase “what do you call it?” frequently morphs into “how do you call it?”, again, a direct translation observed across Italian, French, German, and Polish. Time-related phrases also take on new forms, with “punctual” replacing “occasional” and “finally” used where a native English speaker would say “in the end.”
Beyond Mistakes: The Legitimacy of Euro English
While some might dismiss Euro English as simply a collection of errors made by non-native speakers, this view overlooks its function and evolving legitimacy. A 2016 report from the European Court of Auditors, titled “Misused English Words and Expressions in EU Publications,” indeed points to grammatical errors, particularly concerning countable and uncountable nouns, suggesting these are learner mistakes. However, this perspective doesn’t fully capture the essence of Euro English as a functional communicative system.
As one EU official explained, Euro English is “not something that easy to grasp if you’re not in the European institutions bubble.” It’s less visible in formal written documents, which often undergo editing, but springs to life in meetings, informal conversations, and spontaneous exchanges. It’s a spoken dialect, evolving organically from the daily interactions of individuals from diverse linguistic backgrounds. This official notes the frequent use of French words within Euro English conversations, not due to a lack of English vocabulary, but because many EU staff are fluent in French or German, making these linguistic shortcuts efficient and understood within the community.
“It’s not something that easy to grasp if you’re not in the European institutions bubble. It’s more something you hear during meetings and informal conversations. I think it’s just something that happens naturally when you have non-native speakers who are using a second or third language – it becomes some kind of dialect.” – EU Official
Interestingly, Euro English isn’t exclusive to non-native speakers. Even native English speakers working within EU institutions adopt its quirks and vocabulary. They adapt their language to ensure clarity and understanding within a multilingual environment. Colleagues report native English speakers using phrases and terms they know are not standard British English, recognizing the need to meet in the middle for effective communication. This shared linguistic adaptation contributes to a sense of belonging and shared identity within the EU bubble. Even Irish native English speakers, upon returning home, have noticed themselves using Euro English expressions, demonstrating its subtle but pervasive influence.
Is Euro English a True Dialect? Academic Perspectives
While the term “Euro English” neatly encapsulates this linguistic phenomenon, academics debate whether it qualifies as a distinct dialect. Heath Rose, an associate professor of applied linguistics at Oxford University, argues that while “Euro English” is a useful term, evidence for it being a stable dialect is limited. Dialects, he explains, require stable and consistent linguistic features. Instead, Rose suggests Euro English is more accurately described as an example of “English as a lingua franca” – a highly flexible form of English that adapts based on the speaker’s and listener’s linguistic backgrounds, proficiency levels, and communicative context. The diverse English-speaking community in Europe, he argues, makes it difficult to pinpoint a single, stable dialect.
Robert McColl Millar, a professor of linguistics at the University of Aberdeen, shares similar reservations. He acknowledges a tendency towards a simplified, “mid-Atlantic” English among highly proficient non-native speakers in the EU. However, he remains unconvinced that this has evolved into a fully developed dialect comparable to established non-native varieties like South Asian English. John Joseph, a professor of applied linguistics at the University of Edinburgh, echoes this view, suggesting “Euro English” is a catch-all term for various English varieties used by non-native speakers in Europe, rather than a unified dialect. He points out that EU institutions employ native English speakers who “nativize” official documents, further blurring the lines of a distinct Euro English dialect in formal writing.
The Enduring Role of English and the Future of Euro English
Despite Brexit and the ongoing debate about its dialectal status, the future of English within the EU, in both its British and Euro English forms, appears secure. Professor McColl Millar emphasizes the practical necessity of English in the EU, particularly in bodies like the European Parliament. English serves as a crucial bridge for communication between countries with less common languages, such as Estonia and Malta. Furthermore, English’s global dominance, driven by the United States and increasingly by China in international communication, reinforces its importance on the European stage.
Professor Joseph concurs, noting that while ideological forces might resist English within the EU, its widespread use makes a significant short-term shift unlikely. While long-term changes are possible, depending on the EU’s future trajectory, English’s entrenched position as a lingua franca is difficult to displace quickly. The choice by Ireland to nominate Irish Gaelic, a language spoken fluently by a small minority of its population, as its official EU language is seen more as a symbolic “act of identity” than a practical shift away from English as a working language.
“I’m a very big fan of British English, I find it really beautiful, and people would not necessarily say that about Euro English. It’s not really beautiful, not in the most obvious sense, but if you look at it in a deeper sense… I mean, we have fought against each other, there have been wars on this continent, and now we come together in the parliament, and at least we are trying to communicate.” – Terry Reintke, MEP
Professor Rose highlights the sheer scale of English language education in Europe. With 95% of students across the EU studying English as a second language, compared to a distant 23% for French, the investment in English language learning is immense. This established infrastructure and widespread proficiency make a rapid language shift impractical, regardless of political considerations. Moreover, with the UK’s exit, English arguably takes on a more neutral role within the EU. No longer tied to a specific member state, it becomes a more egalitarian communication tool, less susceptible to accusations of nationalistic bias compared to languages like French or German. This neutrality further solidifies English’s position as the EU’s working language of choice.
MEP Terry Reintke believes that post-Brexit, both British English and Euro English can flourish within the EU. She envisions Euro English continuing to evolve, incorporating more linguistic influences from across Europe and solidifying its unique identity. She suggests future linguistic studies to track the ongoing development of Euro English and its unique trajectory. In conclusion, while the UK may have left the EU, its linguistic legacy, particularly in the evolving form of Euro English, seems firmly rooted and set to thrive, serving as a testament to the enduring power of language in bridging cultures and facilitating communication in a diverse and interconnected Europe.
