© Copyright 2020 Lingoda - All Rights Reserved. Did you know Chinese is the most widely spoken language in the world? first language definition: 1. the language that someone learns to speak first 2. the language that someone learns to speak…. How the English Language Became a Global Lingua Franca … SPANISH!!!!! The English language developed in Europe in the middle ages. The English Proficiency Index has just released statistics on where English is learned around the world and quality of teaching to find the countries with the highest proficiency of English as a second language: Learn English idioms with different topics. The English language has approximately 400 million native speakers worldwide, trailing only Mandarin and Spanish. first language meaning: 1. the language that someone learns to speak first 2. the language that someone learns to speak…. As a result, when native and non-native English speakers are combined, it is recognized as the single most widely-spoken global language. However, as Professor Kioko points out, the evidence suggests otherwise. Since the English language has the most speakers across the world, it is seen as the leading international language. It is believed that there are around 230 million native speakers in the United States, making it the largest English-speaking country, while the United Kingdom has approximately 60 million native speakers. Save up to 30% on Marathon and monthly courses! The English language spread with the growth and expansion of the British Empire. Moreover, it is a major business language, as well as the official language of a number of the world’s most important institutions, including the United Nations, NATO and the European Union. Combined, these three countries are believed to be home to around 13 million people who speak English as their first language. Throughout the 20th century, the United States emerged as a major political superpower, especially in the years after World War II. And that 20% of the world speaks it? Universities also pla… Following a colonial expansion and a series of victories over France and the Netherlands in the 17th and 18th Centuries, England became the dominant colonial power in North America and India. Cyber week sale now on. Middle English transitioned to Early Modern English from about mid-12th Century until the 17th Century through inflection simplification, simplifying linguistics and the Great Vowel Shift. Then you can call English your “first language”. The majority of South Africans actually speak English as a second language, but English is the most commonly spoken language, and the one used in business. Over 100,000 Spanish translations of English words and phrases. EF English First has ESL jobs abroad available now. In fact, English is recognized as an official language in a total of 67 different countries, as well as 27 non-sovereign entities. The English language is a global powerhouse. How are your Russian and Ukrainian? Call us for latest availability. It is the mostly widely spoken second language in the world and an official language of the United Nations, the European Union, and many other international organizations and businesses. You will find that there are many English speaking countries throughout Europe that while it is not a primary or secondary language, there are a large number of people who speak it for example in Italy, although Italian is by far the dominant language, 34% of the population are fluent in English and many more have some grasp of the language so you will be able to get by using English … March 18, 2019. By Gregory Sousa on June 12 2018 in Society. With world business headquarters predominantly in the financial hubs of the UK and USA, English has long been the default language of trade as you can read in the history of the English language.Therefore, English is the dominant business language and it has become almost a necessity for people to speak English … Americanization really started with the rise of Hollywood in the 1920's but really took off globally post World War Two and then again in the internet age. Those with English as a first language must adapt to global multilingual trends, and the faster the better. The English language originated in Britain and the ever-expanding British Empire helped to spread the Modern English around the world during the 18th and 19th centuries. Learning English from an early age could very well be key to better communication and job opportunities throughout life, and the same is true for other internationally important languages, such as Mandarin, Japanese, Spanish, … It is the official language of many countries and also one of the official languages in about English is spoken as the primary language in many countries around the world, with the core of traditional English-speaking states often referred to as the "Anglosphere", but how did the English language become a global powerhouse in the first place? English is one of the most widespread languages of the world and derives its name from Anglia peninsular in the Baltic Sea. Approximately 1.5 billion people learn English worldwide and of course, some countries … Get up to 30% off! Despite having two different official languages, Canada has the third largest English-speaking population, with somewhere in the region of 20 million native speakers, while Australia is next in the list, with around 17 million. Spanish Translation of “First World countries” | The official Collins English-Spanish Dictionary online. Its influence, combined with Hollywood films and the journalistic work of the British Broadcasting Corporation, are credited with the continued spread of the language throughout the century. The quality of English as a second language is becoming more and more competitive in European countries. Do you know what´s number two on the list? By the late 17th Century and onward, Modern English started to form with codification of explicit norms for standard usage and the use of new forms of words. It is estimated that about a third of the world’s population, some two billion persons, now use English. Have you forgotten most or all of those? All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2020 worldatlas.com, Canadian Provinces/Territories By Percentage Of English Speaking Population, Types Of Crimes By Number Of Offenses In The US, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. We have openings teaching English to children, teenagers and adults in China, Indonesia and Russia. It is the language of travel, business, and technology. As of 2019, there were 55 sovereign states and 27 non-sovereign entities where English was an official language.Many country subdivisions have declared English an official language … English native speakers amount to 13% of the whole Union population, … While its roots are Germanic, the language has adopted many words that originated in other languages. New words may come and go, but the English language seems like it will be globally strong into the very the distant future. By 1922 the empire controlled one-fifth of the world's population and almost one-fourth of the Earth's land. The English language is in no danger of becoming extinct anytime soon, nor is it in danger of losing its spot as one of the world's most spoken and global languages. 1.3 What % of English conversations involve only native speakers? Some of the other notable countries around the world where English is the primary language include the Republic of Ireland, South Africa and New Zealand. (Roger M. Thompson, Filipino English and … From the 8th through 12th Centuries Old English transformed into Middle English through Norse colonization and Norman invasion. Despite losing its Thirteen North American colonies in 1783, the British Empire continued to expand elsewhere, turning to colonizing Asia, Africa and the Pacific. Following World War Two the British Empire declined greatly, losing most of its overseas possessions during the post war decolonization period. Menu. The earliest form of English is called Old English and developed from a set of North Sea Germanic dialects spoken by tribes know as the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes. English is perhaps most commonly associated with the United States and the United Kingdom; the two largest English speaking countries. English remains the only official language of the Commonwealth of Nations and is also the recognised official language of several non-sovereign entities, including Gibraltar, the Falkland Islands and Bermuda. Backed by a world-class team of academic and technical experts, plus two thousand certified online English teachers, our mission is to use technology to create a fundamentally better way to learn English. To understand how many countries have English as their first language and how many as their second language, we will use the Three Circle Model of World Englishes … OUR SCHOOLS ARE OPEN! This is why many of the countries where English is an official language were former British colonies, including Canada, Australia, South Africa and the United States. Learn more. The countries have been sorted based on their geographical location. The following is a list of territories where English is an official language—that is, a language used in citizen interactions with government officials. However, it is also the single most popular second language. Read on to learn more interesting facts about the English language. An official language is defined as a language used by the citizens of that country during interactions with their government. The language has developed over 1,400 years and is now the second most learned language in the world. This is a list of countries where: English is considered to be the official language ; or the de facto language, that is the language used by the majority of speakers but not considered the official language. However, this does not apply if you are a national of a country where English is the first and native language and you were awarded your primary medical degree from a country where English is the first and native language. Many countries understand this and have invested a lot of money in English education. ... It’s hard to deny the fact that the English language … English Idioms: Learn English Idioms with Topics. Starting in the late 16th Century Britain established its first colonies in the Americas. English is the most important language to learn if you are not a native speaker. This has led to American culture having a impact globally, which in turn also spreads the influence of the English language. It can foster more international understanding. And for small countries with few native-language speakers, it also makes sense to learn a little of the world's lingua franca for business and policy making. The 2020 edition of the EF English Proficiency Index ranks 100 countries and regions by their English skills. Please check our list of countries where English is the first and native country towards the end of this … English is the primary natively spoken language in several countries and territories. It should be noted that some of the countries listed have more than one official language and, therefore, English may not necessarily be their most common native language. It is considered a global lingua franca, know as a common or trade language that makes communication between two foreign people possible since the English language is so widespread globally. The English language also has a major cultural impact globally because of Americanization. Despite losing its empire the British spread the English language around the globe with its world spanning colonies and economic influence that one can still feel today. But not all have them speak English natively; to understand how many countries have English as their first language, we have to probe a bit further. English is spoken in 105 countries and is the official language in 83 countries. List of English Speaking Countries. Due to the weight that the language carries in the modern professional world, speaking English is fast becoming less of a benefit and more of an essential requirement when looking for a job in Europe.. Do you speak English without a foreign accent? It was named after a Germanic tribe, the Angles, that migrated to England. Colonialism helped to introduce English to regions like India and parts of Africa, where it continues to be widely spoken. English native speakers amount to 13% of the whole Union population, while the percentage of people that speak English "well enough in order to be able to have a conversation", either as first (32%), second (11%) or third (3%) foreign language… The language has been developing for over a thousand years. This information is also valuable for business, or travel purposes, and it tells you which foreign countries have enough people that speak English as a second language that you will be able to communicate, at least with some of the people. Cyber week sale now on. word "English… Nevertheless, the country has an extremely dense population, meaning that this 12 percent cross-section of society exceeds 100 million people. English as a global language. The history of the English language, like any language, is a long history filled with changes. Combined, these three countries are believed to be home to around 13 million people who speak English as their first language. You may be thinking to yourself, “But isn’t English the official language of South Africa?” Yes, technically English is one out of South Africa’s 11 official languages. By the 5th Century Anglo-Saxons had settled Britain and by the 7th Century it was the dominant language of Britain. List of majority native English speaking countries; ... *Applicants presenting Canadian degrees or postgraduate diplomas will not normally need to provide other evidence of English language ability so long as they supply sufficient proof from the institution that the degree was taught and examined in English. Learn how to say the names of many different countries, nationalities and languages in English. The Great Vowel Shift is when all Middle English vowels changed their pronunciation. All European countries speak some level of English. Here is a list of top ten based on the adult population. Even in the areas it did not control the empire exerted much economic influence, since it dominated world trade. 2. Overview of English Speaking Countries Below, we provide a breakdown of some of the most significant countries that have English as either a de jure or a de factoofficial language. Learn English idioms with … Officially, just 12 percent of Indian people speak English, with many only speaking it as a second language. The English language today is cultural and economical important to the world at large. Did you know English is by far the world's most studied language? What does the future hold for the English language? English is the first choice of foreign language in most other countries of the world, and it is that status that has given it the position of a global lingua franca. In ESL countries the language is imported during a colonial period and promoted through education, but there is not a massive migration of native English speakers." It’s the language of international business. For most of the 19th Century and early 20th Century, Britain was the world's leading imperial power. (for a complete list, see the related link below) 1-800-457-1300 Other countries, such as Fiji, Ghana, India, Singapore, and Zimbabwe use English as a second language (ESL). (nationalonline.org) English is the second largest in the world as an official language but when you count all the places it’s taught it’s the #1 language in the world. Although Hindi is the most widely-spoken language in India today, English remains an official language in the country and is often used in university education, and within the field of politics. With students at the centre, our mission is to empower even the busiest people to master a language and unlock their potential – anytime, anywhere. English is the first language in the US, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa, to name a few. A first language (also native language, … English is a West Germanic language, that was born in Anglo-Saxon England, originally from Anglo-Frisian and Old Saxon dialects brought to Britain by Germanic settlers from Jutland and the Rhine Valley in the Early Middle Ages, and now has the status of a global lingua franca, due to being used by traders, and from the British Empire's colonies. ; Non-sovereign entities are not included: As a result, India has one of the largest English-speaking populations on the planet. In countries where English is not the first language, many parents and communities believe their children will get a head-start in education by going 'straight for English' and bypassing the home language. By the turn of the new millennium, English was the most widely-spoken and written language that has ever existed. Check on this map the countries where English is the first language. Below, we provide a breakdown of some of the most significant countries that have English as either a de jure or a de factoofficial language. It is the third most common native language in the world, behind only Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. Founded in 1996, EF English Live has been at the cutting edge of language learning for nearly two decades, having been the first to pioneer a 24-hour teacher-led online English course . Learn more. Five of the largest of these are sometimes described as the "core Anglosphere"; they are the United States of America (with at least 231 million native English speakers), the United Kingdom (60 million), Canada (at least 20 million), Australia (at least 17 … English is spoken as the primary language in many countries around the world, with the core of traditional English-speaking states often referred to as the "Anglosphere", but how did the English language become a global powerhouse in the first place? 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