English language: Difference between revisions

English is a living 'language vault' developed from many of the languages of the world. Hardly any language exists that has not made a contribution to English. Winning out over welsh, Gaelick and Anlo-Saxon it has gone through many stages and was at one time closely related with the Romance, Germanic and Nordic languages it is considered to be a so called Indo-European language.

The success of the British Empire, on which the Sun, once, never sat, has made it the elemental language of England, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It is used extensively as a second language and as an official language throughout the world, especially in Commonwealth countries such as India, Pakistan and South Africa, as well as in many international organizations. For instance it is, by treaty, the International language for air travel.

While the majority of people who learn English as a first language do not speak any second language, the use of English in countries like India has resulted in hybrid forms of English where the ownership of English (just whose language is it) is now coming into question.

For instance so called 'Hinglish' is being spoken in Cities across India and is common in the films of 'Bollywood'. In an opposing move to its adoption, many speakers of French, once the language of diplomacy, have suggested new complicated words or names to avoid its gaining further ground in France, i.e. 'Le sausage Américain' rather than Hot Dog. English, however just keeps adopting new words of its new citizens--a Samosa is just a Samosa all over the former British Empire and Curry Houses now outnumber Fish'n Chips shops in London.

• See Wikipedia article on English language for more information