English language

From Roses, Tulips, & Liberty
English
Native toEngland
RegionWorldwide
Language family
Scythian
  • Germanic
    • North Sea
      • Anglic
        • English
Writing system
Latin
Official status
Official language in
United Kingdom
Ireland
New England
Virginia
Georgia
Carolina
Carnatic
Natalia
Bahamas, Turks, and Caicos Islands
West Indies Union
Guiana
Jamaica

English (English, [ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ]) is a West Germanic language originating in southern Britain. The language belongs to the North Sea subgroup along with other closely related languages such as Frisian, Low Saxon, and Pomeranian. The 5th century saw Anglo-Saxon settlers begin the formation of the language, while medieval Norman invasions of England and subsequent phonological and orthographic changes laid the foundation of modern English. With the expansion of the British Empire, today the English language is one of international status, being recognized in some official capacity by over twenty sovereign states and organizations.

While no formal regulatory institution exists for English, bodies such as the Oxford Dictionary, the Government of the United Kingdom, and the Anglo–Caroline Society act as de facto conservators and authorities. As a global tongue, English is manifested in a multitude of dialects and creoles across the globe, making the notion of a universal pronunciation almost inconceivable; however, the Received Pronunciation standard of southern England has been widely accepted as the most formal and prestigious since the early 19th century.

History

Phonology

Consonants

Labial Dental Alveolar Post-alveolar Dorsal Glottal
Nasal m n ŋ
Stop v. b d g
vl. p t k
Affricate v.
vl.
Fricative v. v ð z ʒ h
vl. f θ s ʃ
Approximant w l r j

Vowels

Front Central Back
s. l. s. l.
Close ɪ ʊ ʉː
Mid e ə ʌ ɔː
Open æ ɜː ɒ ɑː
Fronting Centering Backing
ej ɪə əw
ɔj ɛə
aj ʊə aw

Orthography

See also