The british invented it, sure.. but isn't it the most popular language because of America's influence on the world?
2007-05-01 11:19:33 · 10 answers · asked by GZ 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Britain had a global empire long before america was just a twinkle in our eye
2007-05-01 11:22:46 · answer #1 · answered by sonfai81 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
English is a mish mash of several launguages (which explains the odd spelling rules)
Germanic French Latin Greek and even Yiddish - along with a big dose of Gaelic (the original lauguages of Ireland Scotland Wales )
So Britian did not invent it as such
The US almost spoke German as thier national language ( a close vote in the lower house chose English )
Now as the the UK
Britain controlled 2/3 (two thirds) of the globe at one point
Ever hear the phrase "The sun never sets on the British Empire"?
So is America responsible - ? No not really
If you wanted to do trade and commerce on the earth durring the British Empire's reign you spoke English
America may have "helped" but the truth is if the US dod not speak English they would never have been as prosperous as they have been
2007-05-01 11:30:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Americas and Europes influence maybe, besides it's not the most popular language, that would be Mandarin which has over 1 billion speakers world-wide. (A 2 to 1 ratio to second place English)
2007-05-01 11:24:24 · answer #3 · answered by jay k 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, the Germans invented English. Seriously. That is another answer.
I think America has helped greatly in making English very popular. Countries around the world try to conduct business in English because the U.S. has the greatest GDP in the world.
2007-05-01 11:24:54 · answer #4 · answered by a bush family member 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not really.
English had been widely spread by the English well before the U.S. had much international influence.
2007-05-01 11:25:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've seen a huge amount of people from nonEnglish speaking countries wanting Americans as email friends to help them with their English on YAnswers.
And then lots of Commonwealthers posting answers asking why would they want to learn American English because is so terrible.
Aww, poor babies.
2007-05-01 12:00:23 · answer #6 · answered by tttplttttt 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No I would say its still the brits. whether you are talking about most of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or even if you talk to people from Africa or Haiti, they obviously were taught british english there.
2007-05-01 11:24:07 · answer #7 · answered by sociald 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
both Britain and the US had a hand in spreading english.
the british spread english across their empire. in the latter half of the 20th century the us spread it pretty much everywhere else.
2007-05-01 11:26:31 · answer #8 · answered by Mr. O 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
English is the language of money.
2007-05-01 11:23:00 · answer #9 · answered by MrCrowther 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Don't kid yourself.
What worldwide 'influence' does the US have presently?
Secondly, ask any non-English speaker, which 'English' they would prefer to learn, and the answer is always: British English.
Nobody wants to speak like you lot, thanks.
2007-05-01 11:31:20 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋