Englishlanguage

English language, or English, is a West Germanic language that originated in early medieval England. It developed from Anglo-Saxon dialects brought to Britain by Germanic settlers and was heavily influenced by Norse and by Norman French after 1066. The result is Modern English, which emerged by the late Middle English period and became a global language through exploration, colonization, and trade.

Geographic distribution and use: English is the primary or widely spoken language in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and many other countries. It is an official language in numerous states and is the most studied second language worldwide. It serves as a lingua franca in science, business, aviation, technology, diplomacy, and popular culture.

Linguistic profile: English belongs to the West Germanic branch of the Indo-European family. It has a large and mixed vocabulary, with Germanic core items and extensive borrowings from Romance languages and others. It is an analytic language with relatively fixed word order and auxiliary verbs signaling tense and aspect. Its orthography uses the Latin alphabet and exhibits spelling irregularities that reflect historical sound changes.

Varieties and standardization: Distinct standard varieties exist, notably American English and British English, with many regional dialects. English-based creoles and pidgins are spoken in several regions. Educational and media systems typically rely on standard forms, while regional speech reflects local norms.