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'''English''' is the predominant language of the [[United States of America|United States]], the [[United Kingdom]], [[Australia]], [[Canada]] as well as other former members of the [[British Empire]]. Due to the enormous political and economic influence of the these nations, English functions as the world's major international language.

'''English''' is the predominant language of the [[United States of America|United States]], the [[United Kingdom]], [[Australia]], [[Canada]] 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.

==Vocabulary==

==Vocabulary==

English is a member of the Germanic language family, but with significant influence from [[French]], [[Spanish]], and [[latin]], all Romance language, and [[Greek]]. The influence of French is largely due to the conquest of Saxon-speaking [[England]] by [[French]] speaking Normans in 1066 AD. English owes some of its structure (its system of auxiliary verbs, for example) to French.  In terms of the lexicon, Old English words are a minority (though they predominate when one looks at words for basic ideas like "bed" or "food") whereas words from [[French]] are more numerous, followed by [[Latin]], [[Greek]], and other modern languages.  Scholars identify 4 primary times in the development of history that account for the insurgence of non-native terminology including the above mentioned influence of French, the commencement of trade with Spain and the Enlightenment period for Latin and Greek words.

English is a member of the Germanic language family, but with significant influence from [[French]], [[Spanish]], and [[Latin]], all Romance language, and [[Greek|Ancient Greek]]. The influence of French is largely due to the conquest of Saxon-speaking [[England]] by [[French]] speaking Normans in 1066 AD. English owes some of its structure (its system of auxiliary verbs, for example) to French.  In terms of the lexicon, Old English words are a minority (though they predominate when one looks at words for basic ideas like "bed" or "food") whereas words from [[French]] are more numerous, followed by [[Latin]], [[Greek]], and other modern languages.  Scholars identify 4 primary times in the development of history that account for the insurgence of non-native terminology including the above mentioned influence of French, the commencement of trade with Spain and the Enlightenment period for Latin and Greek words.

Throughout its history, English has remained one of the most flexible and inventive languages, borrowing thousands of words from other languages where need or convenience arise, as well as generating new words of its own.  In large part as a result, English has one of the largest lexicons (vocabularies) of any world language, and is particularly rich in [[synonym]]s and near-synonyms.  It is the primary (native) language of approximately 400 million people worldwide, as well as a secondary, or learned language of 600 million more.  There are estimated to be nearly one billion people currently learning English.   

Throughout its history, English has remained one of the most flexible and inventive languages, borrowing thousands of words from other languages where need or convenience arise, as well as generating new words of its own.  In large part as a result, English has one of the largest lexicons (vocabularies) of any world language, and is particularly rich in [[synonym]]s and near-synonyms.  It is the primary (native) language of approximately 400 million people worldwide, as well as a secondary, or learned language of 600 million more.  There are estimated to be nearly one billion people currently learning English.