16 Questions
What is the status of English as a second language?
It is the most widely learned second language in the world
What percentage of total speakers does English account for in the Germanic language branch?
At least 70%
Which organization recognizes English as a co-official language?
The United Nations
Which ancient Germanic people are the namesake of the English language?
Angles
In how many sovereign states is English either the official language or one of the official languages?
59
What is the estimated number of English speakers worldwide as of 2005?
Over two billion speakers
Which language group does English belong to?
Indo-European languages
What language had the most influence on the grammar, phonology, and most commonly-used words of Modern English?
French dialects
Which language is the closest living relative of English?
Frisian languages
What language group does Scots belong to?
Celtic languages
What group of languages does English, Frisian, and Low German sometimes belong to?
Ingvaeonic (North Sea Germanic) languages
Which language had a profound influence on the development of English vocabulary and grammar due to invasions of the British Isles?
Old Norse
What theory calls English a mixed language or a creole during its development?
Middle English creole hypothesis
Which language is NOT mutually intelligible with English?
German
From which language group did Middle English evolve into Modern English?
Germanic languages
Which language is most closely related to English?
Frisian
Study Notes
English as a Second Language
- English is the most widely spoken language in the world, with a significant number of non-native speakers.
Germanic Language Branch
- English accounts for approximately 70% of total speakers in the Germanic language branch.
Official Language Recognition
- The European Union recognizes English as a co-official language.
Origins of the English Language
- The English language is named after the ancient Germanic people, the Angles.
Global Language Status
- English is either the official language or one of the official languages in over 60 sovereign states.
English Speakers Worldwide
- As of 2005, there are an estimated 1.5 billion English speakers worldwide.
Language Group
- English belongs to the West Germanic language group.
Influence on Modern English
- The Norman Conquest of 1066 led to French having a significant influence on the grammar, phonology, and most commonly-used words of Modern English.
Closest Living Relative
- Frisian is the closest living relative of English.
Scots Language
- Scots belongs to the West Germanic language group.
Language Group Classification
- English, Frisian, and Low German are sometimes classified as belonging to the Ingvaeonic language group.
Latin Influence
- Latin had a profound influence on the development of English vocabulary and grammar due to invasions of the British Isles.
Mixed Language Theory
- The mixed language theory suggests that English developed as a mixed language or a creole during its development.
Non-Mutually Intelligible Language
- Dutch is not mutually intelligible with English.
Language Evolution
- Middle English evolved from the Anglo-Saxon language group into Modern English.
Closely Related Language
- Frisian is the language most closely related to English.
Learn about the origins and importance of the English language, from its early medieval roots in England to its current status as the most widely spoken language in the world. Explore the migration of Germanic peoples to Great Britain and the evolution of English into a global language.
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