English language
From Halbeeg, the open encyclopedia · Af-Soomaali
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English is a language from the Indo-European language family, specifically the West Germanic branch. It originated on the island of Britain and then spread worldwide, following the expansion of the British Empire and, in later centuries, the economic and technological influence of the United States.
Today it is the most widely spoken language in the world when combining native speakers and second-language learners. It is one of the official languages of the United Nations and is widely used in scientific research, international business, diplomacy, air travel and the internet.
History
The history of the language is typically divided into three periods: Old English, brought by Anglo-Saxon tribes; Middle English, which absorbed a great many French words after the Norman conquest in the 11th century; and Modern English, which began roughly from the 15th to 16th century. The spread of printing and book translation helped standardize the language.
Grammar
English follows a subject-verb-object word order. Compared with other Germanic languages, it has lost most of the case system for nouns, relying instead on word order and prepositions. Its vocabulary includes a large amount of Latin and French vocabulary used in academic and formal registers, while everyday basic words are mostly of Germanic origin.
Spread and varieties
English is spoken as a native language in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. It is also an official language in many African and Asian countries, where it often works alongside local languages. There are many local dialects and varieties, including those in India, Nigeria and the Caribbean, as well as pidgins and creoles based on English.
English in Somalia
In Somalia, English was influenced by British colonial administration in the north and is today widely used in higher education, business and work with international organizations. Many English words have entered Somali, particularly in the fields of technology and administration.