The current state of research into linguistic epicentres.

This special issue focuses on key issues in epicentral research. Against the background of a brief discussion of the epicentre metaphor in the world Englishes paradigm, the various regional constellations in Africa, America, Asia and Australasia relevant to the concept of linguistic epicentres are highlighted and the temporal framing of epicentral influence is discussed with regard to often‐assumed evolutionary prerequisites of potential linguistic epicentres. More fine‐grained methodological perspectives on linguistic epicentres are subsequently provided with regard to: (1) linguistic variables studied; (2) data sources available; and (3) statistical approaches. Before short summaries of the papers featured in this special issue are presented, the role of linguistic epicentres as a component in modelling world Englishes is scrutinised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]