The wonders of the English language are the success and ease of use of this language. I can listen to the radio and tell if the speaker is of Indian descent, Australian, or an American. Generally. Generally since I can be listening to English man from Britain and learn that his name is Ravinder Singh. The wonders of the English language are numerous.
For super relatives, let's start with "it is the second most widely spoken native language in the world, the mother tongue of more than 350 million people, and the most widely taught foreign language, and the international language of science and business." That is what the website
http://www.answers.com/topic/e nglish-language says about English.
English has a long and convoluted history. Linguists believe that English has its discernible origins in 5 AD, when the Anglos, the Saxons, and Juters invaded England and established themselves. All contributed to the language and that was the seed of the current English language. Today, the English language is still picking up words from other linguistic traditions and adopted the word as its own.
Words like coffee, which probably evolved from Kaffa region of Ethiopia. Actually this word is more a global and multi lingual expression than it is an exclusively English word. It has been adopted by many cultures and linguistic traditions. It does show how wide the influence of English is or how English is open to other languages.
One of the lasting legacies of the Monarchs, explorers, exploiters of England is the dominant use of the English language. Not the least of which is the written form of English. For instance, I can read and write English which is not my first language. People from all traditions can read what I am writing to a great degree.
One of the problems of English and globalization is the threat it and other dominant language pose to hundreds of other languages now decreasing in usage. These are the many indigenous languages all over the world, such as Karen of Vietnam, the San language of the Bushmen of Africa, and Kalaliit of Greenland have suffered decline in use.
Yet for prices of progress and homogenization of the global village, lots of good things have happened. English has contributed to understanding and communication of tribes, villages, nations, and continents. The language is a tool as much as it is the artistic expression of the like of Shakespeare and Poe.
The English language is a wonder in itself. It is relatively easy to learn and its use can evolve to master status. As it changes the world we live in, the English language itself changes. The more is become part of us, the more we own it.
السبت مايو 02, 2009 4:20 pm
