What is English Language Day?
English Language Day was created by UNESCO in 2010 and is celebrated every year on April 23. The day has been designed to celebrate the English language, which is one of the official languages of the United Nations, as well as to promote cultural diversity, multilingualism and usage of the language itself.
It is one of six official language days created by UNESCO, with the ultimate aim of promoting equal use of each of them. April 23 was selected as the date for English Language Day because it is the anniversary of the birth of one of the greatest ever English language writers, William Shakespeare.
History of the English Language and its Influences
The English language has developed over period of almost 1,500 years, with its earliest forms originating in England around the 5th century, having been brought to the country by Anglo Saxon settlers. It is a Germanic language, which has gradually evolved into one of the most influential language in the world.
Its earliest form is usually referred to as Old English, while an evolved form, beginning in the 11th century, is known as Middle English. The invention of the printing press in the 15h century brought about Early Modern English, while standardised spelling was introduced in the 18th century, leading to Modern English.
Throughout its history, the English language has been influenced by other West Germanic languages, as well as by the Romance languages. A significant number of words have evolved or been borrowed from French and Latin.
As time has passed, the global importance of English has increased considerably, to the point where it is now the main language of commerce, diplomacy, science and technology. Indeed, it is now so widely spoken and has such a level of influence that it is sometimes referred to as the lingua franca of the modern era.
English Language Around the World and How it Expanded
The expansion of the British Empire, particularly during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, helped English to become the world’s first truly global language. Most notably, the language was adopted in North America, Australia and India, while several other former British colonies have opted to continue using the language.
During the 20th century, the popularity and global influence of the English language was helped by the emergence of the United States as one of the world’s superpowers in the aftermath of World War II, as well as though English language film, television and radio broadcasts from the likes of the Hollywood and the BBC.
Today, English is spoken as a first language by an estimated 400 million people worldwide, with an additional 1 billion people speaking it as a second language. It is an official language in around 60 countries worldwide, including the United Kingdom and United States, as well as an official language of the United Nations and the European Union.
Influence of the English language on Other Languages and Vice-versa
As previously mentioned, English has loaned words from a range of languages, including French, Latin, German and Spanish. However, the English language has also had an influence on other languages too. Below, we have outlined a few examples of the influence of English on other languages, and vice-versa.
English Words and Phrases Originating From French
A little under 30 percent of all English words originate from French, thanks in large part to the Norman Conquest in 1066. Examples of common English words and phrases with French origins include:
– Action
– Attention
– Audible
– Bouquet
– Bourgeois
– Brunette
– Chivalry
– Coup d’état
– Deja vu
– Fiancé / Fiancée
– Government
– Omelette
– Petite
– Silhouette
– Souvenir
– Visible
English Words and Phrases Originating From German
A number of words and phrases of German origin have also made their way into the English language. This can be explained by the two languages being West Germanic, and by the overall influence of German. Examples include:
– Blitz
– Bratwurst
– Frankfurter
– Kindergarten
– Muesli
– Pretzel
– Realpolitik
– Rucksack
– Schnapps
– Zeitgeist
English Words and Phrases Originating From Spanish
English has also been influenced by other Romance languages, which explains why so many English words and phases are of Spanish origin. A few examples can be found below:
– Aficionado
– Alligator
– Canyon
– Embargo
– Fiesta
– Guerrilla
– Jalapeño
– Plaza
– Rodeo
– Stampede
– Taco
– Tornado
– Vanilla
English Words and Phrases in Other Languages
Of course, English has also had an influence on other languages around the world. Below, you will find some examples of words or phrases which have an English origin, complete with their translation:
– Anti-baby pille (German for ‘contraceptive pill’)
– Camping (Italian for ‘camp site’)
– Dancing (Italian for ‘dance hall’)
– Ferri (Spanish for ‘ferry’)
– Handy (German for ‘mobile phone’)
– Internet (used in Spanish and German)
– Les jeans (French for ‘jeans’)
– Le parking (French for ‘car park’)
– Trainer (German for ‘sports coach’)
– Le weekend (French for ‘the weekend’)
Reasons to learn English With Lingoda
With Lingoda, you can learn English from fully-qualified native speakers, guaranteeing you an authentic language education. Our courses are also completely flexible, allowing you to create a schedule that is tailored to your individual needs, habits and lifestyle and enabling you to learn from the comfort of your own home.
We sincerely believe our courses offer all of the key benefits of traditional classroom-based learning, with a whole range of additional benefits. Moreover, Lingoda’s language courses are structured in accordance with the CEFR and students have the opportunity to earn official certificates, which enjoy international recognition.
