English language

English language is a West Germanic language that was first spoken in early medieval England and eventually became a global lingua franca. It is named after the Angles, one of the ancient Germanic peoples that migrated to the area of Great Britain that later took their name, England. Both names derive from Anglia, a peninsula on the Baltic Sea. English is closely related to Frisian and Low Saxon, with its vocabulary being significantly influenced by other Germanic languages, particularly Old Norse (a North Germanic language), as well as Latin and French.

History

English originated in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria. Following the economic, political, military, scientific, cultural, and colonial influence of Great Britain and the United Kingdom from the 18th century, via the British Empire, and of the United States since the mid-20th century, it has been widely propagated around the world, becoming the leading language of international discourse and the lingua franca in many regions.

Classification and related languages

English is a West Germanic language, and its closest relatives are other West Germanic languages such as German, Dutch, and Frisian. It has also been significantly influenced by Romance languages, particularly French.

Geographical distribution

As a result of the historical dominance of the British Empire, and of the United States, English is widely spoken across the globe. It is the official language of numerous countries and is often used as a second language in others.

See also

• History of the English language
• English phonology
• English grammar
• English in computing
• English literature

References

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External links

• English Language Organization

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