ArOunD ThE EnGlIsH-sPeAKiNg WoRlD iN OnE DaY!

1. What happened in 1066?
In 1066, William the Conqueror seized the English Crown from King Harold at the Battle of Hastings. For the next 300 years, the language of the court, law, science, religion and literature was French or Latin.
During this period, at least 10,000 French 'loan' words came into the English language - words such as felony, perjury, attorney and nobility.
While almost all written language was French or Latin, English remained amongst the people. It survived because it was so well established as the vernacular tongue.


2. Why is the year 1607 important to the history of English?
In 1607, just over 100 settlers sailed into Virginia, USA. This wasn't the first attempt by the English to colonise the New World. Two earlier settlements had failed due to the hostility of the native Americans. This time, English took root and, even now, the speech patterns of the region owe more to Devon and Cornwall than Virginia.
Settlements were also founded in Madras and Calcutta in 1600 under the auspices of the East India Company. By the end of the eighteenth century, the company controlled virtually all aspects of Indian administration, and English was the language used on a daily basis, resulting in the import of many Indian words such as cheroot, bandana, toddy and verandah.

3. How many people speak English as a second language?
The English as a second language, is spoken by about 375 million speakers in the world.


4. Which five countries in Asia speak English officially?
Hong kong,India,Pakistan,Philippines and Singapore.


5. Make a list of the six different types of World English and write a characteristic of each.
-US English
-Canadian English
-Australian and New Zealand English
-South African English
-Indian English
-West Indian English:
Standard British English has traditionally been the linguistic model for the Commonwealth Caribbean, although recently the import of US television, radio, and tourism has made American English an equally powerful influence. The many varieties of Creole, influenced by West African languages, are also productive. A characteristic usage is that of the objective pronoun where British English would use the subjective or possessive, as in me can come an go as me please or he clear he throat. Jamaican Creole is the most widely known, and has spread beyond the region, especially to the UK, where it influences the speech of black Britons.


6. Write down five new English words.
Winery: bodega
cabinet:armario
radiator: radiador
machine: máquina
microwave: microondas.