You can guarantee to run into someone who speaks English wherever you go. When and why did English emerge as the universal language in places as diverse as the United Kingdom and French Polynesia? I say we find out.
1. It Has More Native Speakers than Any Other Language
There are over 400 million native speakers of English, and another 0.8–1.6 billion individuals can understand and use the language. Since more than a quarter of the world’s population is fluent in the language, you can always find a conversation partner with whom to work on your skills.
2. It’s the Language of International Trade and Commerce
English has been the de facto international trade language for quite some time. Most multinational corporations have their global headquarters in English-speaking countries like the United Kingdom or the United States.
Perhaps this is because native English speakers aren’t the only ones who see the value in learning a new language and because you have to find a way to communicate with people from all over the world.
3. The Majority of Films Are Dubbed Into English
Given Hollywood’s status as a cultural hub, it seems that the film industry would eventually choose English as its primary production language. Sure, subtitles are excellent, but watching a film in its original language is the ideal way to experience it.
4. It’s Simple to Pick Up
Although opinions vary, most people agree that English isn’t the most arduous language to learn. The vocabulary is easily assimilated, and its close relationship to numerous other languages allows speakers of those languages to trace the genesis of English ideas.
5. It Has Linguistic Ancestry with a Wide Variety of Tongues
War, invasion, and cultural influences from all over the world have left their mark on the English language, creating a rich and varied past.
Romans, Norsemen, and the French are only a few cultures that have contributed to modern English. Due to this fact, it is a fusion of Latin, German, and Romance.
6. There Are Myriad Methods to Express Any Given Idea
The variety of words available in the English language allows for a great deal of linguistic leeway, making it possible to express the same idea in many different ways.
There are supposedly around 750,000 words in it (the exact amount varies slightly depending on the counting method; more optimistic estimates go as high as 1 million), and more are being added yearly.
7. English Is An Adaptable Solution
Those learning English as a second language often remarks on the sheer variety of possible expressions. It is because English is a very accommodating language. Some nations have taken this idea to heart, such as Singapore, which has created a new variety of English termed “Singlish” by incorporating elements of other languages such as Chinese and Malay.
8. It’s Constantly Evolving
Selfie. Smasual. Bae. These terms are relatively recent additions to English, yet they have quickly become standard fare.
English is the language that changes the most and into which new terms spread, often without being translated. English is a language that knows where the good times are.
9. International Pronunciations Vary
Distinct dialects across countries where English is the national language are a more recent phenomenon in the development of English. The cultural and historical experiences that have shaped the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States have resulted in distinct linguistic and spelling variations in each country.