The myth of the native speaker (with David Crystal)

In this interview I talk to David Crystal: a legend in the world of the English language.
He is a linguist, lecturer, and broadcaster, and he has written or edited over 100 books about language including the Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English language.
We talk about language change, the myth of the native speaker, and why learning languages is part of being human.
I hope you enjoy it!
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Listen to the full interview here (or iTunes, or Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts): anchor.fm/canguro-english/epi...
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Visit David's website here: www.davidcrystal.com/
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[@Canguroenglish]

Join the Canguro English newsletter: canguroenglish.com/newsletter I’m sorry I don’t have time to reply to all of your comments but I read them all and I am eternally grateful for your love and support.

[@prakruthikolaysreerangaraj5635]

Being an Indian comes with its own prejudices and judgements from random people around the world, especially when it comes to the accent. Mr. Crystal's eloquent, well articulated interview has left me feeling reassured about my accent. I am ever so grateful to have come across this gem of a video! A million thanks for sharing this with the world. The joke about spies had me in splits!😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@gemmafeltovich6130]

As an American English speaker, I love Indian and Pakistani English! I think the English vocabulary in many parts of India and especially media is really cool, and I love listening to my friends from Pakistan speak so much. Especially because of India's history of colonization, English belongs to you as much as it belongs to me. I hope you stay proud of your accent :)

[@prakruthikolaysreerangaraj5635]

@@gemmafeltovich6130 Thank you so much for your kind and supportive words ❤️

[@anirutvideo]

As a professional interpreter who has to deal with myriad of accents, this is interview is just wonderful. Wonderful. Wonderful. Thank you, sir.

[@rolandscales9380]

Magic Grandad. An amazing scholar and presenter who can even make a spiel about vowel shifts sound comforting.

[@EzequielNovello]

"Intelligibility is full ahead, Identity is full of heart" -David Crystal

[@IceCenders]

I read your comment before watching the video and wondered what the speaker meant by that. In fact he actually says "Intelligibility is for the head, identity is for the heart" (don't ever trust auto-generated subtitles xD).

[@sochukwuivye]

We're all witnesses to how you glide your way to immortality, Prof.

[@oksanasalik8135]

I can't get enough of this interview!!! I have to write down some ideas to remember. David and Christian, you are great!

[@rickimam]

I'm so thankful for your videos, Christian. Thanks for all the effort you put into them and a big thank you to Mr. Crystal too!

[@remivantrijp8968]

Oh wow, you interviewed David Crystal! I had the pleasure of seeing one of his lectures way back in 1999, truly inspiring

[@e-teachermariana4140]

Thank you for this interview!

[@oksanasalik8135]

Christian, thank you so much for your very special guest! I was so happy about the ideas I learnt that I watched the video several times

[@tslangue]

“Why climb mountains?” 👏 🙌 ✨ Fantastic talk!

[@pabloarruda2444]

You are a great teacher, have much learned with your channel. Thank you very much!

[@uwemuller2944]

Thank you for these interesting interviews with such fascinating people!

[@natureluc8234]

this conversation was really powerful .

[@ayoubalharchal1074]

I watched 2videos on your channel & I'm already a big fan! Great content!

[@hamidreza7151]

That was great christen. I appreciate that. You have been motivating me for a while

[@ednacarolinaparramoreno4507]

Great video! it is a delight to hear him talking... such an incredible clarity and eloquence about language

[@SmythAcademy]

EXCELLENT!!! Thanks for sharing this interview. It was a pleasure to listen to David

[@annarita8629]

Thanks Christian to introduce to us a such amazing person. He is very competent and so kind at the same time. You are as akways great .

[@alfonsotamayo9841]

I love this channel! Thank you and congratulations! Amazing and interesting interview and great point of view.

[@mikeokon3233]

Quite a resourceful interview. I really enjoyed watching it and listening to the venerated linguist, David Crystal. Like him, I also think that intelligibility should count much more than the accent of the speaker. I always enjoy being able to identify speakers of the English language through their accents. This channel is so educative, and I am happy to have subscribed to it.

[@KevinAbroad]

Such an awesome interview!

[@mychudungco]

I love the way he uses the language. I wish to have its channel to follow. Anyway, thanks Christian for the wonderful interview.

[@axizzizo]

Thank you so Christen for this breathtaking video. You have been motivating us with these informative sessions. You really out of this world. Thanks ever so much.

[@grupoedomus_programa_ingles]

Professor David Crystal is always fenomenal!

[@edytazemlak2781]

What a fantastic interview!

[@77marassi]

What a video!!! It is what I always thought about accent. It's part of my identity. The most important is to be understood. Thank you very much.

[@lutchbizin6420]

Mr Crystal is absolutely superb.

[@mimicrono]

GOSH!!!! Mr. David Crystal!!!! He IS a LEGEND, and I am afraid he will be alone in that position for a long, long time. It is a pleasure to see that I think the same as he does, regarding learning and teaching a language. I am stil recovering from the surprise of learning that he helped with the famous Quirk's grammar, it was a BIG book, both in size and content. I have recently purchased one, out of love for that book (or time of my life, who knows 😳). I have never seen him in person, he is both adorable and delightfully entertaining, I could be listening to him for HOURS. You are a lucky man, it would be an incredible honour to speak to him. Congratulations!

[@AnaBeatrizVianna]

Thank you!🌹

[@adrianajs8520]

Wow! What an amazing guy! That was so heartwarming! Thank you.

[@foriera8]

Great interview. Thank you very much!

[@sarahomar9044]

Amazing interview. Thanks for hosting David as a guest. 👏🏻

[@sarwendah1]

Thank you for the video and I am learning a lot. I am still learning English and this is widening my horizon.

[@user-bb8vf3tq6l]

Thanks a million. Great video.👍👍👍👍

[@43immi]

Thank you so much for all that you have done for the evolution of the English Language, Mr David Crystal! I totally agree with your opinion about vocabulary being the "mountain". It is 💯% right!

[@jotamelo3264]

Thank you very much! Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

[@mehdishekarlian6413]

I am really grateful to have the chance to watch your videos. There are the most inspiring and crucial elements of learning process that every human being should be looking forward to. The precious experience that is shared only be the greatest souls in the field, The ones who are brave enough to go beyond the teaching process, beyond the materialistic aspects of educational goals. You are the ones who give this world a meaning to live, experience, and love. Thank you Christian for the difference and the light you bring upon all of us by your kindness and intelligence.

[@GeungeSoul]

Best video about English Learning/Teaching I have seen in years.

[@anamariarodriguez6644]

Thank you very much Christian! Excellent interview!

[@elenitsourounaki4751]

One can't get enough of David Crystal! What a prominent thinker and intellectual! A true gem and a gift to this world.❤ Thank you for sharing.

[@dominiquerobin329]

Thanks a lot . I didn't understand all but it is very interesting . This man is a beautiful person. Christian I like your videos.

[@vishwamithran8853]

This is amazing .I wish all the people should have this understanding.

[@claudiafaria591]

Thanks so much for sharing so ch wonderful videos that can enhance our knowledge as a person and as a Tesl.

[@rrumcajsz]

Excellent video. It's an honour to listen to the ideas/thoughts of David Christal. Of course, credits to you Christian for pruducing this video. Also, I beleive that your interesting and new ideas & approach to teaching and learning English are very useful to teachers and students alike. A big thanks for your work :)

[@DawnPeacock]

This is a very interesting topic which - despite being an English teacher here in the States for over 20 years - I've just become aware of. I think it's quite complex and I still have a lot of thoughts and feelings to process on the matter. I appreciate this conversation.

[@tutorserge]

Thank you so much!!!

[@Skellag]

This is the best interview I saw so far. I literally hate English teachers since a public school. Now I learn English because I want it and in a way I want it as well as I speak it the way I want it! Thank you!

[@rodrigodesouza291]

Great! Thank you!

[@MacCWB]

Now, that was a delightful surprise! I don't even remember why I came here in the first place, but boy, I loved having come! Made my week!

[@jeronimoccmm]

Thanks for this video! Subscribed!

[@VoteforAndrewYang-rn5mw]

David crystal is my idol. I have read his books. I m currently reading his book on grammar. I just forgot if it is making sense of grammar or the glammour of grammar. I keep on reading his works.hope oneday I will be the next David. Crystal.

[@sofialexrush5646]

Thank you Christian wow great video and very informative. Greeting from Syria

[@ceciliaromia]

Special thanks to one of the most amazing linguists in the whole world, Professor David Crystal! Thank you, Christian!

[@berevilsondeoliveiragomes2140]

First of all... thank u Christian for everything u`ve been doing for us, foreign english learners, and for bringing up so important issues about learning languages. And again thanks for this wonderful interview with Mr. David Crystal (this man is the best). Thanks a lot.

[@guilhermearielmachado9669]

You are deserve all respect for the knowledge you sharing with us without asking anything in return. Obrigado.

[@dartvincent4025]

super-useful interview, it's done me reflect about in various parts of my experience life. excellent!! I like so much your channel. I admire you a lot with all the different topics that you teat here.

[@rebelsoul777]

It was pleasure to watch your conversation. That is my goal, to speak freely without worrying about my accent. The only frustraition I have is that I'm lacking of words and I sound dumb for myself, because I cant express myself the way I would in my language.

[@TZB2011]

Today morning only I happened to hear about this great soul, Mr. David Crystal....wow...and then you have provided me an opportunity to hear from him...I am fortunate enough to hear him today itself through you, Christian just now... owe to you much for this! Like the name his thoughts are with crystal clarity and unquestionable authority. Love more the intelligibility and identity endeavors. Namesthe Ji, the doyan of linguistics!

[@pabloarruda2444]

Amazing!

[@ledocoelho]

Oh man! Great, great one video! You're my favorite! Humble one.... When you talk about language standard as a new form of colonialism.. you nailed it! Tks!

[@nataliya2641]

This video really is the bee's knees.Thank you and warm wishes from Moscow.

[@travelsaddict8952]

I agree with him, learning all the vocabulary is tough.

[@bagheera178]

😍 Love it. Wise man!

[@anil-bi2yo]

If there is nobel prizes for other fields, why not for linguistic, fine words, being a english origin man and having respect for every single language. Great sir .

[@markdonovan1540]

Very interesting interview, thanks Christian. Yes, vocabulary building is key for many of my students who are at intermediate level and wanting to improve towards an advanced or proficiency level (broadly speaking or actual CAE exam focused) I use some books for topic based lessons, but I also ask the students to choose their own materials from books, internet, magazines, newspapers, work documents, presentations, brochures, etc. I don't recommend learning lists per se, but I do encourage them to make their own list/dictionary/vocabulary book where they make notes of new vocabulary that the will actually use regularly. We then do role play, debate, general conversation etc. about the topics that interests them.

[@andredigiorgiomantese5887]

That interview was something, Christian. He's such a bright man. Thanks very much for this precious content.

[@thematureneuro468]

Wonderful conversation, thank you very much for bringing this to us.

[@veronicatolfi]

What a GENIUS!!!

[@midamida1275]

Thank you so for this great interview 16:18👍👍👌👌

[@hazzard77]

Very fascinating!

[@minervajlalfa]

Thanks Cristhian. At the end, the people that study English do that, by their pleasure. For us, ,(the learners), our today's mistakes and it's correction, will be our tomorrow victories. We, enjoy our mistakes because they are the "tiles" in our learning path. 🧘👣

[@viethai1961]

So great

[@EasyFinnish]

Awesome!

[@domenicobertone1807]

Wow... I love you guys

[@EClassroomE-Classroom]

A million likes for this man!!!!

[@sridharp2188]

Always great.

[@armenkrasnov3650]

Great interview! Keep doing the great job! Christian, could you make a video about the inplementation of critical thinking skills in a language learning environment? Thanks.

[@yakupyasar6116]

This nice information for us as an English Teacher is significant.So,I follow this new information I am so glad to subscribe here and use these kind of suggestions in my lesson.These information make us different

[@soledadearcoverde3223]

I Love listening to Mr. David Cristal.

[@kunnikarseangnaul8897]

Mr. David Crystal is a very nice man. ❤

[@Canguroenglish]

He's a LEGEND.

[@marosaleh124]

Thanks alot very great

[@jimmykaming]

David Crystal is my idol. I even dreamed to the next David Crystal. I read quite many of his works. I enjoyed all of them tremendously. I am from hongkong, a non native English learner.

[@Canguroenglish]

HE IS A LEGEND

[@michasz4967]

The video is showing like everybody should to learn a language. For me, the video is important and I'm grateful Chris and David Crystal 😁

[@DilOkulum]

thanks a lot

[@Arkveth]

Really nice interview! Just yesterday I was so unmotivated to keep learning German as the Vocabulary Everest peak is unreachable but videos like this keeps me motivated :)

[@jordyliterario]

Same thing happening to me rn with German too!

[@echolee601]

Having been reading David Crystal‘s books for months，love them！

[@user-xx7ox9cu2m]

NO WAY!!! NO.. FREAKING.. WAY!!! I'm not fan girling over Crystal. I am NOT fan girling over Crystal! 😀

[@kri_shi_ka]

In over all interview, I understand that how vocabulary plays important role in language building for its beautiful expression.

[@faridehv.k.6631]

Thanks

[@friyao1523]

i always love to learn new vocabulary through Alex in iswearenglish. Probably you could get him in your next interview session.

[@Santi_407]

You are bringing to the channel some of my idols. THANKS! Suggestion: Steven Krashen ☺️

[@annaorucu4028]

××q

[@alastairgrant14]

Here is my interview with Stephen Krashen. There are also interviews with Diane Larsen-Freeman and many others. drive.google.com/drive/folders/1VI_VSzfpSdq3_A75l6njggsl6kM3ZmM0?usp=sharing

[@DANGJOS]

Not sure he's a fan of Stephen Krashen's theory

[@lua3]

completely agree with the vocabulary part!! really the most difficult one. there should be more techniques to teach/learn it. and the thing about prizes for language learning is a terrific idea!!!

[@VTSifuSteve]

This is my first encounter with Mr. Crystal. He's a fascinating lecturer. I agree with his point that accents can be very charming as long as they don't interfere with intelligibility. As a Yank, I find Mr. Crystal's accent so slight that by the end of the video I could hardly hear it and was certain that he must have spent a good deal of his life on this side of the pond. Yet, according to his bio he's lived in the UK his entire life.

[@minativishwakarma3985]

Very useful video!!!👍👍👍

[@nutscracker2691]

Mr. David Crystall your RP English is beautiful. By the way, your speech and your face have strong resemblance with Mr. Bernard Shaw..

[@rosminazuchri9090]

My name is Rosmina Zuchri from Indonesia Country. thanks you dialog conversation with David Crystal

[@reginmelegrito6113]

As a Filipino English teacher who teaches Koreans , it's really hard to compete with the "so-called" native speakers , see most Filipinos have been studying English all their lives still we are underpaid because of our cultural background , most of us are trying our best to disguise our accent just to fit in , nevertheless I have accepted that fact and got no choice but to thrive .

[@winterbird9189]

Also for anyone who may be interested, active learning approaches towards vocabulary are beneficial. play snap with vocab words, play the memory game with the words on cards and match them to pictures or match them to English words and try to remember. Even taking tests will help you to learn and memorise the words. Then, write.. write write, because you want to be able to remember actively and draw on those words when you want them, not just remember them when prompted.

[@Pronunciationwithemma]

NO WAY!!! NO.. FREAKING.. WAY!!! I'm not fan girling over Crystal. I am NOT fan girling over Crystal! 😀

[@andreavelosoclark650]

Why?

[@Anna-el8iw]

HA HA HA! Right?! LOOOOVE this guy.

[@alelovelau]

You have good company! 😂😂 #teamDavid