English is spoken as an official, majority, or plural language in many countries around the world. It became widely used due to British and American colonialism and cultural influence over the past few centuries. Varieties of English now exist as the primary or secondary language in countries like the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, India, Nigeria, and the Philippines, among others. Regional dialects and influences from other languages have led to accents and usages that are unique to different areas.

1. Welcome to
English-Speaking
Countries

2. 55 BC Julius Caesar's Roman incursion of Britain
AD 43 The beginning of the Roman occupation of Britain
436 The Romans have completed their retreat from Britain
449 Germanic invaders began to settle in Britain
450-480 The earliest Old English inscriptions that have been discovered
1066 The Duke of Normandy, William the Conqueror, invades and conquers England
C1150 The oldest extant Middle English texts
1348 In most schools, English takes the role of Latin as the language of teaching
1362 For the first time, English replaces French as the language of law, and it is used in Parliament
C1388 The Canterbury Tales is started by Chaucer
C1400 The Great Vowel Shift is about to occur
1476 The first English printing press is established by William Caxton
1564 Shakespeare is born
1604 The first English dictionary, Table Alphabeticall, is published
1607 The establishment of the first permanent English settlement in the New World
1616 Shakespeare passes away
1623 The First Folio of Shakespeare is released
1702 The Daily Courant, the earliest English-language daily newspaper, is published in London
1755 The English dictionary of Samuel Johnson is published
1776 The American Declaration of Independence is written by Thomas Jefferson
1782 Britain abandons its colonies in what would eventually become the United States of America
1828 Webster's American English Dictionary is published
1922 In the United Kingdom, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is established
1928 The Oxford English Dictionary is a book published by Oxford University Press
Late Modern
English
Abrief chronology of English
Local inhabitants
speak Celtish
Old English
Middle English
Early Modern
English
Origin and History of the English Language
English can be divided into three phases:
1. Old English (450 - 1100)
2. Middle English (1100 - 1400)
3. Modern English (1476 - Present)
English is a West Germanic language related to Frisian,
German, and Dutch in the Indo-European language family.
The United States, the United Kingdom, Canada,
Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and a handful of
Caribbean and Pacific island nations all speak English.

3. I was aware that English is the official
language of many nations, but English
is not the sole official language in all of
them. I wanted to know where English
is spoken as the only language and
where it is spoken alongside other
languages.

4. Because of its widespread use, English has been referred
to as a "global language," the modern era's lingua franca,
and despite the fact that it is not an official language in
most nations, it is today the language most commonly
taught as a foreign language. It is the official language for
aviation and marine communications under international
convention. The United Nations and many other
international organizations, like the International Olympic
Committee, use English as one of their official languages.
It is also one of two co-official languages for astronauts
serving on the International Space Station.
Why did English become a "Universal" Language in the
first place?
The British Empire's military might originally aided in the
spread of the language over the globe. The economic
might of both the British and the Americans bolstered this
position.
Huge technological breakthroughs have enabled American
movies, music, the press, radio, and other media to be
transmitted and consumed all over the world.
The growth of multinational firms with operations in
several nations aided in the adoption of a "common"
language. Through active promotion, these enterprises
also dramatically enhanced linguistic visibility.
The United States governed the economy throughout the
most of the twentieth century, cementing English as the de
facto language of trade.
Scientific articles are published in English in the vast
majority of cases. Over 80% of everything on the internet
is written in English. If you want to succeed in science and
technology, you must be able to communicate in English.
With the internet, a scientist in India may easily
communicate with a scientist in Austria, who can then
communicate with a colleague in Boston. If there is a
language barrier between them, this loses a lot of its use.
At the end, English happened to be in the right place at
the right moment. Britain was the world's top industrial and
economic powerhouse at the turn of the nineteenth
century. They were only usurped by a larger English-
speaking country. As a result, for the last 200 years or
more, the world's dominant language has been English,
and these years have seen the most rapid growth in
human technology ever. A language franca arose from the
exporting of these new technology and ideas.
One-third of the world's population, or 1.35 billion people,
speak English. However, the vast majority are not natural
English speakers. English is the first language of around
360 million people.

5. United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, there are three varieties of English:
1. In England, the English language is spoken and written in
a variety of accents and dialects. The dialect, along with
other variants in the United Kingdom, is part of the greater
British English. Throughout England, there are many
various accents and dialects, and individuals are
frequently quite proud of their regional accent or dialect.
Accents and dialects, on the other hand, might draw
attention to social class distinctions, rivalries, and other
biases.
2. Welsh English refers to the several varieties of the English
language spoken by Welsh people. Welsh grammar has a
strong impact on the dialects, and vocabulary originating
from Welsh are frequently used. The Welsh language has
had a greater impact on accents and dialects in the west
of Wales, whereas dialects in the east have been
influenced more by English dialects. Although not
emphasized, the last syllable of a sentence sounds
significantly longer than in Standard English.
3. Scottish English refers to a group of English dialects
spoken in Scotland. Scottish English has a different
vocabulary, notably relating to Scottish institutions such as
the Church of Scotland, local government, education, and
judicial systems, in addition to distinct pronunciation,
grammar, and phrases. Scottish English is best described
as an accent that is a perfect blend of Gaelic origins,
Scots phonology, and an English vocabulary. In terms of
linguistics, Scottish English was only created three
centuries ago, making it one of the "newer" dialects in the
British Isles.

6. British dialects that are well-known:
Scouse
If you're from Liverpool, you'll
understand Scouse. The Liverpudlian
accent is one of the most well-known
British regional dialects, and it's a
nasal dialect that's difficult to imitate
at first.
Brummie
You will speak the Brummie
dialect if you are from
Birmingham. It's pretty soft and
springy, and it has a bumpy
texture!
Northern Irish
The Northern Irish accent is both lovely and powerful.
When individuals speak Northern Irish, the first thing you'll
notice is how many letters appear to be missing from
words. 'Northern Irish,' for example, would be pronounced
more like 'Nor'n Ir'sh'!
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a large county in England, and many
individuals speak a Yorkshire dialect variant as a result.
Yorkshire, sometimes known as 'God's Own County,'
boasts a delightful accent. One of the most noticeable
differences between this dialect and RP is that words
ending in a 'ee' sound, such as 'nasty,' are pronounced as
'nasteh.'
Estuary English
Another London-based dialect is this one. The 'Estuary' in
issue is the Thames Estuary, and those who reside along
its length speak this dialect. It's currently one of the most
commonly spoken accents in the South. It isn't as
sophisticated as RP, but it isn't as 'ordinary' as Cockney,
either.
Cockney
This is one of the most well-known dialects in the United
Kingdom, and it is synonymous with the capital city. It
developed as a working-class accent in London,
particularly in the city's impoverished East End. Rhyming
Slang was born of the Cockney accent, and you can still
hear market sellers yelling in Cockney from their stalls all
around the East End. There are several 'glottal pauses' in
the Cockney dialect, and the 'th' sound commonly
becomes a 'f' sound.
Geordie
Newcastle residents speak the Geordie dialect and are
also known as Geordies. One of the most noticeable
variations between Geordie and RP is that the 'r's at the
end of words are not spoken, but are instead pronounced
as 'ah.' As a result, a word like "sugar" becomes "sug-ah."
A term like 'Space Centre,' for example, becomes 'Space
Cent-ah'!

7. Ireland
Ireland is a northern European island in the
North Atlantic Ocean. The North Channel, the
Irish Sea, and St George's Channel divide it
from Great Britain to the east. Ireland is the
British Isles' second-largest island, Europe's
third-largest, and the world's twentieth-largest.
English is one of two official languages,
along with the Irish. Irish English is a dialect
of English that is spoken in Ireland. Anglo-
Irish is another name for Hiberno-English. As
seen below, regional variations in Irish
English exist, particularly between the north
and south.
Northern Irish AccentsThe majority of these
accents are found in Northern Ireland, with a
few appearing in County Donegal to the south.
These dialects have a strong Scottish flavor to
them, as the Scotts previously ruled the region
thanks to their huge plantation holdings.
South-Western Irish
These accents, which can be found from County
Cork to County Mayo on the coast, are noted for
their strong impact of Gaelig pronunciation, even if
the individuals speaking don't speak Irish. These
accents have a strangely Canadian tone about
them, according to Americans. Non-Irish people
often find these accents to be quite melodious and
enjoyable to listen to.
East Coast Irish English (Dublin)
This is a grouping of urban accents. The
most common example is "working-class"
Dublin, which has a distinct accent that can
be heard all around Ireland. These accents
have a few things in common: Non-rhotic
elements in which the last "R" is omitted,
transforming water into watah. Whereas
vowel pairs like goat are pronounced as
monophthongs everywhere in Ireland, they
are pronounced as dipthongs in the East
Coast Irish dialect.

8. United States of America
The British colonization of the Americas
was the history of England, Scotland, and
Great Britain establishing dominion,
settlement, and colonization of the
continents of the Americas (after 1707).
England's unsuccessful attempts to build
permanent colonies in the North began
colonization operations in the 17th century.
In 1607, Jamestown, Virginia became the
first permanent English settlement. At the
time, the region was home to some 30,000
Algonquian people. More colonies were
formed in North America, Central America,
South America, and the Caribbean
throughout the following several centuries.
The majority of British possessions in the
Americas acquired independence over
time.
The group of English dialects endemic to
the United States is known as American
English. English is the most frequently used
language in the United States, and it is the
de facto common language in government,
education, and commerce in the vast
majority of cases. Since the turn of the
century, American English has risen to

9. There are certain grammatical distinctions
between British and American English,
aside from spelling and vocabulary.
Collective nouns, for example, are singular
in American English (e.g. The band is
playing). Collective nouns, on the other
hand, can be single or plural in British
English, however the plural form is more
commonly employed (e.g. The band are
playing).
The primary distinction is that British
English retains the spelling of terms
borrowed from other languages, primarily
French and German. While American
English spellings are mostly determined by
how a word sounds when spoken.
There are certain terms that differ between
the Americans and the British. There's a list
of common things that have various names
based on whatever English dialect you're
using.
Jumper (BrE) – Sweater (AmE)
Flat (BrE) – Apartment (AmE)
Fizzy drink (BrE) – Soda (AmE)
Shop (BrE) - Store (AmE)
Petrol (BrE) – Gasoline (AmE)

10. Australia
Australian English, considered one of the
primary variants of the English language, is
the official language of Australia, having
strayed from British English in the 18th
century when the colony of New South
Wales was founded.
While English speakers in the United Kingdom
will use entire words, English speakers in
Australia will employ diminutives. These terms,
which are frequently abbreviated versions of
British words, are frequently appended with a
vowel at the end. This is the case with the
British English phrase "afternoon." For the
afternoon, Arvo is Australian English.

11. New Zealand
During the nineteenth century, colonists
created the English language in New
Zealand. It is one of "the newest native-
speaker variants of English in existence, a
variety that has just grown and become
unique in the last 150 years." Australian
English and Southern England English had
the most effect on the evolution of New
Zealand English, with smaller influences
from American English, Irish English,
Scottish English, and the British prestige
accent Received Pronunciation. The Mori
language of New Zealand's indigenous
people is a significant source of vocabulary,
and its contribution differentiates New
Zealand English from other forms.

12. Canada
On a phonological level, Canadian and
American English are grouped together as
North American English, highlighting the
fact that most people cannot tell the
difference between the two nations' accents
based on sound alone. While Canadian
English is generally closer to American
English, it does contain parts of British
English as well as certain distinctively
Canadian traits.
French and British expeditions explored, colonized, and
battled over various parts of North America in what is now
Canada beginning in the late 15th century. New France was
declared a colony in 1534, with permanent colonies
commencing in 1608. Following the Seven Years' War,
France relinquished practically all of its North American
colonies to the United Kingdom in the Treaty of Paris of 1763.
In 1791, the then-British province of Quebec was split into
Upper and Lower Canada. The Act of Union brought the two
provinces together as the Province of Canada.

13. India
How did the English language make its way
to India?
The British East India Company arrived in
India as spice dealers, a valuable product
in Europe at the time since it was used to
preserve meat. They mostly traded silk,
cotton, indigo dye, tea, and opium. On
August 24, 1608, they arrived on the Indian
subcontinent at the port of Surat.
Indian English is English speech or
writing that reflects the impact of
Indian languages and culture. In India,
it's also known as English. One of the
earliest regional variants of the English
language is Indian English.
India is presently the second-largest
English-speaking country in the world.
The most reasonable estimate is that
roughly 10% of the population, or 125
million people, live in the country,
which is second only to the United
States and is predicted to treble in the
next decade.
Hinglish
For others, Hinglish is a popular
alternative because to a lack of access
to English language study among the
lower classes, along with a desire to
learn the language. Speakers can use
both Hindi and English in this way
without having to master one or both
to a proficiency level.Hinglish is a
hybrid language that combines Hindi
and English in discussions, individual
phrases, and even words. "She was
bhunno-ing the masala-s jub phone ki
ghuntee bugee," for example. "She
was cooking the spices when the
phone rang," she says.

14. Nigeria
Nigeria is one of the top ten English-
speaking countries in the world.
Why do Nigerians have such a hard time
communicating in English?
It's broken English, similar to Patois and
Creole, spoken along the West African
coast, and it's spread across the diaspora
thanks to Nigerian migrants. This lingua
franca did not go with the missionaries, but
instead remained and is now the most
frequently spoken language in Nigeria,
surpassing English.
Nigerian English, commonly referred to as
Nigerian Standard English, is an English
dialect spoken in Nigeria. Due to the
necessity to explain notions peculiar to
Nigerian culture, the dialect is based on
British English and incorporates several
loanwords and collocations from Nigerian
local languages.

15. Philippines
The Philippines is known across the world
as one of the most English-speaking
countries, with the majority of its inhabitants
speaking the language at some level. More
than 14 million Filipinos speak English,
which has long been one of the country's
official languages.
Any variant of English local to the
Philippines, including those used by the
media and the great majority of educated
Filipinos and English learners in the
Philippines from surrounding Asian nations,
is referred to as Philippine English (similar
and connected to American English).
Because of their close sound and spelling,
Filipino and American English are
frequently compared. Going back in time,
the Philippines was colonized by the
Americans for 48 years, and the effect that
the Americans had on the Filipinos had a
huge impact on the country's educational
system.As a result of this impact, the
Filipino English accent is nearly identical to
the American English accent, with the
exception that it is slightly stronger. It's
important to note that English is now
regarded the Philippines' second language,
if not the official language, by some
Filipinos, particularly those who live in
urban areas such as Metro Manila and
Cebu.