The Anglophone World
English has become the most widely used international language in the past hundred years, and it is described as the most spoken language of the world. Except for Chinese, more people speak English as a mother tongue than any other language. But it is important to note that there are more people who have learned English as a second language than there are native speakers. English is either the official language or one of the official languages in fifty-nine sovereign states of the world. It has been estimated that there are over two billion speakers of English, that is to say, almost 20% of the earth's population speaks it one way or another. About 59% of websites in the worldwide web are in English. Around three quarters of the world's mail is written in English, and on the Internet, it has been reported that approximately 95% of e-mail traffic world-wide is in this language. In international business, English is used more than any other language, and it is the language of airline pilots and air traffic controllers all over the world. Although French used to be the language of diplomacy, English has displaced it throughout the world. Moreover, English is the language of science and technology, and higher education is usually offered in it in most countries of the world. English is not merely the language of those who have acquired it as their mother tongue, and belongs to all nations of the world. The fact that English has the highest number of loan words among all the languages of the world proves its international nature. Therefore, unless you plan to spend your life as a recluse away from the society on a desert island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, English is a useful language for you to know and mastering it can help you make more progress in your life.
Interesting Facts about English
- English is the third most spoken language in the world, after Mandarin Chinese and Spanish.
- English has more words than any other language, with over 170,000 words in current use and about 47,000 obsolete words.
- Shakespeare, the famous English playwright and poet, invented over 1,700 words, such as "assassination", "bump", "lonely", and "zany".
- The longest word in English is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, a type of lung disease caused by inhaling volcanic dust. It has 45 letters and is rarely used in everyday speech.
- The shortest sentence in English is "I am." It has only two words and three letters.
- The most commonly used word in English is "the", followed by "be", "to", "of", and "and".
- The most commonly used letter in English is "e", which appears in about 11% of all words.
- The word "set" has the most definitions in English, with 464 meanings listed in the Oxford English Dictionary.
- English is the official language of the air, which means that all pilots have to identify themselves and communicate in English, regardless of their origin.
- English is a hybrid language that borrows words from many other languages, such as French, Latin, Greek, German, Arabic, Hindi, and more.
American English
American English is the set of varieties of the English language that are native to the United States. It is the most widely spoken language in the country and the de facto common language used in government, education and commerce.
American English has many patterns of pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar and spelling that are different from other English dialects around the world. It also has many regional accents, such as Southern, New York, Boston, Midwestern and Californian.
American English is influenced by the history, culture and media of the United States. It has also become the most influential form of English worldwide. Many people around the world learn American English through websites like Voice of America, which offers English language lessons for different levels of learners.
American English has many patterns of pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar and spelling that are different from other English dialects around the world. It also has many regional accents, such as Southern, New York, Boston, Midwestern and Californian.
American English is influenced by the history, culture and media of the United States. It has also become the most influential form of English worldwide. Many people around the world learn American English through websites like Voice of America, which offers English language lessons for different levels of learners.
British English
British English is the set of varieties of the English language that are native to the United Kingdom. It differs from American English in some aspects of pronunciation, grammar, spelling, and vocabulary. For example, British English uses 'u' in words like colour, favour, and honour, while American English omits it. British English also tends to use 's' instead of 'z' in words like realise, organise, and analyse, while American English prefers 'z'.
Some other differences between British English and American English are:
British English uses 'have got' or 'have' to express possession, while American English uses 'have' or 'have gotten'.
British English uses 'shall' or 'will' to express future tense, while American English uses 'will' or 'going to'.
British English uses 'learnt', 'spelt', and 'dreamt' as past tense and past participle forms of 'learn', 'spell', and 'dream', while American English uses 'learned', 'spelled', and 'dreamed'.
Some other differences between British English and American English are:
British English uses 'have got' or 'have' to express possession, while American English uses 'have' or 'have gotten'.
British English uses 'shall' or 'will' to express future tense, while American English uses 'will' or 'going to'.
British English uses 'learnt', 'spelt', and 'dreamt' as past tense and past participle forms of 'learn', 'spell', and 'dream', while American English uses 'learned', 'spelled', and 'dreamed'.
Canadian English
Canadian English is a variety of English spoken in Canada. It is one of the two official languages of Canada, along with French. Canadian English has some features that are similar to American English and some that are similar to British English, as well as some unique characteristics of its own.
Some examples of Canadian English are:
Some examples of Canadian English are:
- The use of the letter "u" in words like colour, favour, and neighbour, following the British spelling
- The pronunciation of the letter "z" as "zed", not "zee", as in American English
- The use of the word "eh" at the end of sentences or questions, as a way of seeking agreement or confirmation
- The use of the word "washroom" to mean "bathroom" or "restroom"
- The use of the word "toque" to mean a knitted hat
Australian English
Australian English is the set of varieties of the English language native to Australia. It is influenced by both British and American English, but also has its own distinctive features and vocabulary. Some examples of Australian English phrases are:
- G’day: A greeting that means "good day".
- Mate: A term of address or friendship that can be used for anyone, regardless of gender.
- Crikey: An exclamation of surprise or astonishment.
- Fair dinkum: An expression that means "genuine" or "honest".
- No worries: A phrase that means "don’t worry" or "it’s okay".
New Zealand English
New Zealand English (NZE) is the dialect of the English language spoken and written by most English-speaking New Zealanders. It is influenced by New Zealand culture, people, institutions, geography, plants and animals, as well as by other forms of English, especially Australian English, British English, and Māori.
NZE has some distinctive features in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. For example, NZE speakers tend to flatten their vowels, raise their intonation at the end of a sentence, and use words like "Kiwi", "jandals", "bach", and "chilly bin".
NZE also has several dictionaries that document its unique words and expressions, such as The New Zealand Oxford Dictionary, The New Zealand Dictionary, and The Dictionary of New Zealand English.
NZE has some distinctive features in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. For example, NZE speakers tend to flatten their vowels, raise their intonation at the end of a sentence, and use words like "Kiwi", "jandals", "bach", and "chilly bin".
NZE also has several dictionaries that document its unique words and expressions, such as The New Zealand Oxford Dictionary, The New Zealand Dictionary, and The Dictionary of New Zealand English.
English in Iran
English language teaching (ELT) in Iran has gone through different phases, influenced by the political, social, and cultural changes in the country. The history of ELT in Iran can be divided into three main periods: under the Qajar dynasty (1836-1925), under the Pahlavi dynasty (1925-1979), and under the Islamic Republic (1979-present).
Under the Qajar dynasty, English was introduced to Iran by American missionaries, who established schools and colleges that offered English courses along with other subjects. However, English was not widely taught or learned, as Persian was the dominant language of education, administration, and literature. Moreover, the traditional religious schools (maktabs) did not include any foreign languages in their curriculum, and the majority of the population was illiterate and poor.
Under the Pahlavi dynasty, English gained more importance and popularity, as Iran modernized and opened up to the Western world. The first national curriculum for English was developed in 1939, and English became a compulsory subject in secondary schools and universities. English was also used as a medium of instruction in some higher education institutions, such as the University of Tehran and the National University of Iran. English was seen as a tool for scientific and technological advancement, as well as a symbol of prestige and progress.
Under the Islamic Republic, English faced some challenges and controversies, especially after the 1979 revolution and the Iran-Iraq war. English was associated with Western imperialism and cultural invasion, and some radical groups called for its elimination from the education system. However, English survived and thrived, as the demand for it increased among the Iranian people, who sought to communicate with the global community, access information and knowledge, and pursue personal and professional goals. The Ministry of Education revised the national curriculum for English several times, and introduced new textbooks and methods that aimed to balance the linguistic and cultural aspects of ELT. English also became more available and accessible through private language institutes, satellite TV channels, and the internet.
In conclusion, ELT in Iran has a long and complex history, reflecting the changes and challenges that the country has experienced in the past 100 years. English has played different roles and functions in different historical periods, and has been influenced by various factors, such as politics, religion, culture, and economy. Today, English is widely taught and learned in Iran, and is considered as an important and valuable skill for personal and social development.
Under the Qajar dynasty, English was introduced to Iran by American missionaries, who established schools and colleges that offered English courses along with other subjects. However, English was not widely taught or learned, as Persian was the dominant language of education, administration, and literature. Moreover, the traditional religious schools (maktabs) did not include any foreign languages in their curriculum, and the majority of the population was illiterate and poor.
Under the Pahlavi dynasty, English gained more importance and popularity, as Iran modernized and opened up to the Western world. The first national curriculum for English was developed in 1939, and English became a compulsory subject in secondary schools and universities. English was also used as a medium of instruction in some higher education institutions, such as the University of Tehran and the National University of Iran. English was seen as a tool for scientific and technological advancement, as well as a symbol of prestige and progress.
Under the Islamic Republic, English faced some challenges and controversies, especially after the 1979 revolution and the Iran-Iraq war. English was associated with Western imperialism and cultural invasion, and some radical groups called for its elimination from the education system. However, English survived and thrived, as the demand for it increased among the Iranian people, who sought to communicate with the global community, access information and knowledge, and pursue personal and professional goals. The Ministry of Education revised the national curriculum for English several times, and introduced new textbooks and methods that aimed to balance the linguistic and cultural aspects of ELT. English also became more available and accessible through private language institutes, satellite TV channels, and the internet.
In conclusion, ELT in Iran has a long and complex history, reflecting the changes and challenges that the country has experienced in the past 100 years. English has played different roles and functions in different historical periods, and has been influenced by various factors, such as politics, religion, culture, and economy. Today, English is widely taught and learned in Iran, and is considered as an important and valuable skill for personal and social development.
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