The Evolution of English
English is the dominant international language of the 21st century. It is spoken at
auf level by some 1.75 billion people- a quarter of the world's population. As the
language of communications, science, information technology, business, entertainment and
diplomacy. It has increasin dy become the operating system for the global conversation
How did this happen? What does it mean?
Two qualities have been pivota) in the evolutionary rise of English: momentum and
adaptability
The momentum was originally provided by the political, military, religious and merchant
classes. Through colonisation. Ship-borne trade with the Americas, North Africa, the Indies
and China, and the attendant role of Christian missionaries, the English language was
exported worldwide. [..]
Though the UK's political and military power was crucial in the 19th and early 20th
centuries, the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 was to prove of major significance. This
established English as dominant over French in the United States; and then - as the UK's
empire Shrank in the 20th century - rapidly growing American global influence gave the
language a momentum perhaps unique in modern history.
As English was spreading, it was also adapting and absorbing, soaking up vocabulary
from newhere. I
The process continues and has intensified today - with many more scientific,
technological and creative discoveries (and their patents and trademarks) now described
and named in English when once they were introduced to the world in German and French
Words expand their meanings to cover new situations ('a computer mouse'); the language
Incorporates or creates new words to express new concepts ( to email' or 'to google'). The
only constant is change...)​