According to the Harvard Review, English is the fastest spreading language in human history, the impact can be felt economically, socially and subsequently globally. In fact, the impact made, heighten the language above all other languages, both the ancient and modern mode of expression and communication are being subjected to extinction as time itself, favoured the advent of English language.
Historically, English as a language has come a long way some sources claimed English language itself really took off with the invasion of Britain during the 5th century. Three Germanic tribes, the Jutes, Saxons and Angles were seeking new lands to conquer, and crossed over from the North Sea. It must be noted that the English language we know and study through various English language courses today had yet to be created as the inhabitants of Britain spoke various dialect of the Celtic language. During the invasion, the native Britons were driven north and west into lands we now refer to as Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. The word England and English originated from the Old English word Engla-land, literally meaning “the land of the Angles” where they spoke English.
Another source tagged it to have sourced from a family of languages mostly spoken in Europe and western Asia from Iceland to India around 5,000 years ago by nomads that once roamed the European plains.
Many arguments, debates and talks have been watered on English language which had positively aid the growth of the lingua Franca, a status that can be justified since most countries adopt English language as their first choice of foreign language. Currently, it has been estimated that about a third of the world’s population, some two billion persons, now use English as a language.
If you ask me, I believe it deserves all possible accolades, despite its origin (England) it has become the dominant language of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and various island nations in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. It is also an official language of India, the Philippines, Singapore, and many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa, West Africa and of course my great nation, Nigeria.
Now, we should bear in mind, as beautiful as it might sounds, phonetically (the Briton can be my judge), English has passed through mutation, change, evolution, and adaptation all due to time.
Why and how does it evolve?
Language changes for several reasons. First, it changes because the needs of its speakers change. New technologies, new products, and new experiences require new words to refer to them clearly and of course efficiently. But the biggest change to ever occur is colonization and migration. Americans would agree with me on that, since they fared well in honouring the pronunciation of English but then, the fact remains they adapt and adopt it from their colonizer which is Britain. And for, migration, the mass movements of English speakers across the Atlantic from Europe, to the Americas, Asia and then Africa all for the purpose of settlements or business ventures.
Surely, time will always play a vital role in the change, mutation, evolution, and adaptation of English language, because to me, apart from other extinct languages, English language although old, is here to stay.
Obaba Museum 