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The '''English language''' is the predominant language of the [[United States of America|United States]], the [[United Kingdom]], [[Australia]], and [[Canada]],<ref>http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0855611.html</ref> as well as other former members of the [[British Empire]]. Due to the enormous economic, scientific, political and cultural influence of the these nations, English functions as the world's major international language.

The '''English language''' is the predominant language of the [[United States of America|United States]], the [[United Kingdom]], [[Australia]], and [[Canada]],<ref>http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0855611.html</ref> as well as other former members of the [[British Empire]]. Due to the enormous economic, scientific, political and cultural influence of these nations, English functions as the world's major international language.

English is the number one spoken language in the world.<ref>[https://www.visualcapitalist.com/top-languages-spoken-in-the-world/ Ranked: The Top Languages Spoken in the World], Visual Capitalist</ref>

English is the number one spoken language in the world.<ref>[https://www.visualcapitalist.com/top-languages-spoken-in-the-world/ Ranked: The Top Languages Spoken in the World], Visual Capitalist</ref>

==History and Development==

==History and Development==

English is considered a member of the [[Germany|Germanic]] language family, one of the oldest surviving Germanic languages within the North-Sea Germanic/Ingvaeonic sub-grouping of this family, with a vocabulary based upon Saxon, Angle, and Jute descent. The language has changed considerably in its existence; predecessors to modern English are highly distinct and are often mistaken for a completely different language, as evident in Old-English and Middle English. In the Middle Ages, loanwords entered from Latin, due to its use as a literary and ecclesiastical language, and from Old Norse.<ref>Jordan, John-Erik. "[https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/139-norse-words 139 Old Norse Words That Invaded The English Language]". Babbel Magazine. Lesson Nine GmbH.</ref> [[French]], amongst other Romance languages, has had a large impact on the language as well, due to the conquest of England by the French speaking Normans in 1066 AD. French also had a great impact on the language as it was the Lingua-Franca, considered so up until [[World War II]] (when English itself became the Lingua-Franca), in subjects such as law, science, philosophy, and politics.

English is considered a member of the [[Germany|Germanic]] language family, one of the oldest surviving Germanic languages within the North-Sea Germanic/Ingvaeonic sub-grouping of this family, with a vocabulary based upon Saxon, Angle, and Jute descent. The language has changed considerably in its existence; predecessors to modern English are highly distinct and are often mistaken for a completely different language, as evident in Old English and Middle English. In the Middle Ages, loanwords entered from Latin, due to its use as a literary and ecclesiastical language, and from Old Norse.<ref>Jordan, John-Erik. "[https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/139-norse-words 139 Old Norse Words That Invaded The English Language]". Babbel Magazine. Lesson Nine GmbH.</ref> [[French]], amongst other Romance languages, has had a large impact on the language as well, due to the conquest of England by the French-speaking Normans in 1066 AD. French also had a great impact on the language as it was the Lingua-Franca, considered so up until [[World War II]] (when English itself became the Lingua-Franca), in subjects such as law, science, philosophy, and politics.

Scholars typically identify several key factors in the development of the language in regards to the insurgence of non-native terminology. These times include the influence of French, mentioned above, the commerce England had with Spain, introducing Spanish to the language, and the effect of the [[Renaissance]] and [[Enlightenment]] period, which brought Latin and Greek based words to the language. Based on the history of the English language, it is sometimes compared to a common [[Creole]] language due to the many factors that have helped it develop over hundreds of years.

Scholars typically identify several key factors in the development of the language in regard to the insurgence of non-native terminology. These times include the influence of French, mentioned above, the commerce England had with Spain, the introduction of Spanish to the language, and the effect of the [[Renaissance]] and [[Enlightenment]] period, which brought Latin and Greek-based words to the language. Based on the history of the English language, it is sometimes compared to a common [[Creole]] language due to the many factors that have helped it develop over hundreds of years.

After World War II, the rise of the United States as a world superpower led to English replacing French as the Lingua-Franca, becoming the world's most used language for diplomacy, commerce, science, and so forth. Because of this, Modern English is considered the world's most important international language by many.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4080401.stm</ref>

After World War II, the rise of the United States as a world superpower led to English replacing French as the Lingua-Franca, becoming the world's most-used language for diplomacy, commerce, science, and so forth. Because of this, Modern English is considered the world's most important international language.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4080401.stm</ref>

==Spelling==

==Spelling==

== Differences with other languages ==

== Differences with other languages ==

In contrast with German, the English language requires designation of ongoing activities by appending  "ing" to the verb, as in "he was running into the end zone when he dropped the football" or "I am teaching writing".  Notice that a form of the verb "to be" is used as a helping verb; thus, constructions like "I do teaching writing" are ungrammatical.

In contrast with German, the English language requires the designation of ongoing activities by appending  "ing" to the verb, as in "he was running into the end zone when he dropped the football" or "I am teaching writing".  Notice that a form of the verb "to be" is used as a helping verb; thus, constructions like "I do teaching writing" are ungrammatical.

English is considered a weakly inflected language. This means that the grammatical functions of words do not primarily depend on suffixes, prefixes, or vowel changes. Instead, meaning primarily depends on word order. Although Old English was highly inflected, this property was lost during the period of [[Viking]] occupation and the [[Danelaw]]. Old Norse and Old English shared a similar core vocabulary, but varied in their inflections.<ref name="hannan">Hannan, Daniel. (2013). ''Inventing Freedom: How the English-Speaking Peoples Made the Modern World''. New York: HarperCollins. P. 75.</ref> In England, these inflections were dropped through interactions between speakers of the two languages.<ref name="hannan" /> Today, English and [[Danish language|Danish]] are two of the least inflected Indo-European languages, although it is unlikely that the version of Old Norse spoken in England influenced the Danish language.

English is considered a weakly inflected language. This means that the grammatical functions of words do not primarily depend on suffixes, prefixes, or vowel changes. Instead, meaning primarily depends on word order. Although Old English was highly inflected, this property was lost during the period of [[Viking]] occupation and the [[Danelaw]]. Old Norse and Old English shared a similar core vocabulary, but varied in their inflections.<ref name="hannan">Hannan, Daniel. (2013). ''Inventing Freedom: How the English-Speaking Peoples Made the Modern World''. New York: HarperCollins. P. 75.</ref> In England, these inflections were dropped through interactions between speakers of the two languages.<ref name="hannan" /> Today, English and [[Danish language|Danish]] are two of the least inflected Indo-European languages, although it is unlikely that the version of Old Norse spoken in England influenced the Danish language.