There are many wonderful languages spoken in the world. French is among the most beautiful and is my personal favorite, even though I can't speak it very well. English is also a popular language and is the one I am focusing on this morning.
"The English language developed in Europe in the middle ages. It was named after a Germanic tribe, the Angles, that migrated to England. The language has been developing for over a thousand years. While its roots are Germanic the language has adopted many words that originated in other languages. With words from many different languages making their way into the modern English lexicon as well. French and Latin are two languages that had a large impact on modern English," says Matt Rosenberg, a writer, and geography with 20 years experience.
In modern times, there are many countries whose official language is English. They include: Australia, Bermuda, Canada (except Quebec), Cameroon, England, Fiji, Northern Ireland, The Republic of Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Malawi, Montserrat, New Zealand, Scotland, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Wales, and Zimbabwe, to name a few. Did you notice that there was one country conspicuous in its absence? Yep. The United States of America. And that is because the US does not have an official language. Have you ever wondered why?
In the country's early days, those first colonies were settled by people who spoke multiple languages. While many of the colonies were formed by former citizens of Great Britain, other humans from across Europe also chose to make "the new world" their home. So, of course, they brought their native languages with them. According to expert, Matt Rosenberg, "For this reason, during the first Continental Congress, it was decided that no official language would be chosen. Today many think declaring an official National language could violate the first amendment but this has been untested in the courts. Thirty-one states have chosen to make it the official state language." English may not be the official language of the US but it is still the most common. Spanish, as you may have guessed, comes in at number two.
A global language is one that is spoken by millions of people around the globe. English is one of these languages. But it is also one of the most difficult to master. And I know this from first-hand experience! The sheer size of the language and its many linguistic oddities, like irregular verbs, can be challenging for students.
When traveling the globe, it's worth noting that there are few places in the world where a little English won't help you out. While it's always nice to learn some of the language of the country you're visiting having a shared common language to fall back on is great. It allows speakers to feel like they are a part of the global community. And feeling included is always a good thing.
As you may know, Friday's are generally my "fun" day where I try to bring you interesting or odd facts about things that you aren't likely to find too many other places. Tomorrow will be no exception. I hope you'll stop by for a look at somethings that fun for both children and adults alike, and that's the scavenger hunt. Until then, I wish you
PEACE.
"The English language developed in Europe in the middle ages. It was named after a Germanic tribe, the Angles, that migrated to England. The language has been developing for over a thousand years. While its roots are Germanic the language has adopted many words that originated in other languages. With words from many different languages making their way into the modern English lexicon as well. French and Latin are two languages that had a large impact on modern English," says Matt Rosenberg, a writer, and geography with 20 years experience.
In modern times, there are many countries whose official language is English. They include: Australia, Bermuda, Canada (except Quebec), Cameroon, England, Fiji, Northern Ireland, The Republic of Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Malawi, Montserrat, New Zealand, Scotland, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Wales, and Zimbabwe, to name a few. Did you notice that there was one country conspicuous in its absence? Yep. The United States of America. And that is because the US does not have an official language. Have you ever wondered why?
In the country's early days, those first colonies were settled by people who spoke multiple languages. While many of the colonies were formed by former citizens of Great Britain, other humans from across Europe also chose to make "the new world" their home. So, of course, they brought their native languages with them. According to expert, Matt Rosenberg, "For this reason, during the first Continental Congress, it was decided that no official language would be chosen. Today many think declaring an official National language could violate the first amendment but this has been untested in the courts. Thirty-one states have chosen to make it the official state language." English may not be the official language of the US but it is still the most common. Spanish, as you may have guessed, comes in at number two.
A global language is one that is spoken by millions of people around the globe. English is one of these languages. But it is also one of the most difficult to master. And I know this from first-hand experience! The sheer size of the language and its many linguistic oddities, like irregular verbs, can be challenging for students.
When traveling the globe, it's worth noting that there are few places in the world where a little English won't help you out. While it's always nice to learn some of the language of the country you're visiting having a shared common language to fall back on is great. It allows speakers to feel like they are a part of the global community. And feeling included is always a good thing.
As you may know, Friday's are generally my "fun" day where I try to bring you interesting or odd facts about things that you aren't likely to find too many other places. Tomorrow will be no exception. I hope you'll stop by for a look at somethings that fun for both children and adults alike, and that's the scavenger hunt. Until then, I wish you
PEACE.
Rosenberg, Matt. "What Countries Have English as an Official Language?" ThoughtCo, Apr. 24, 2019, thoughtco.com/english-speaking-countries-1435414.
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