engelskan

Engelskan is the Swedish term for the English language, a West Germanic language originating in England. In Swedish usage, engelskan is the definite form used to refer to the English language. It developed from several Anglo-Frisian dialects brought to the British Isles during the early medieval period and later incorporated elements from Norse, Latin, and Norman French, leading to a dynamic vocabulary and grammar. Today, it is spoken by hundreds of millions as a first language and by many more as a second language.

Historically, Old English was spoken from roughly the 5th to the 11th century. The Norman Conquest in 1066 introduced significant French influence, giving rise to Middle English. By the Early Modern English period (from the 15th century), the language standardized in many areas, aided by the printing press and the Great Vowel Shift. Spelling and pronunciation diverged further, contributing to the orthographic complexity seen today.

The English language became a global lingua franca during the British Empire and continued to spread through American cultural and economic influence. It has many regional varieties, including American English, British English, Australian English, Indian English, and numerous others, with substantial differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, and usage. It is the primary or official language in several countries and is widely used in international communication, science, business, and culture.

Linguistically, English is classified as a Germanic language in the West Germanic branch. It is primarily analytic, with a relatively fixed subject–verb–object word order. It uses definite and indefinite articles, has a complex system of tenses and aspects, and relies on auxiliary verbs. Its orthography is highly irregular, reflecting a mixed history of influences from multiple languages.