English
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
English is a beautiful language. OK so the French say that theirs is more poetic, the Italians believe theirs is more romantic, the Spanish more passionate and the Germans, -- what do they think of their language?:-) Of course English is all of these because it is a blend of all of these and more.
English, like most European languages has its roots in Latin and Greek. It is, however, spiced with Gaelic as well as Garlic. Centuries of invasion by Danes and Saxons, Normans and Romans, Vikings and Goths all added flavour and colour. In the great days of English exploration and colonisation the language was taken all around the world where it rooted and grew. Soon the explorers returned and people from these far cultures visited and settled here bringing words and phrases which were absorbed into English.
From the roots to the branches! As it has many origins so has it many variations. The local dialects just add more colour. From the soft warm West country burr to the hard clipped vowels of Geordie land, from jolly Cockney to witty Scouser, from Norfolk to Brum these are the true glory of the English rose.
Internationally, so the variety of accents multiply and continue to add taste and aroma. This means that it not only grows but subtly changes. Individual words change meaning which can cause confusion and mis-understanding. 'Sad' and 'Gay' were opposite ends of the happiness spectrum, now one means 'Obsessed with trivia' and the other 'Homosexual'. I'm not sure how much of a change that is, but I can see the confusion!:-)
The process continues, and as world-wide communication proliferates so this tongue will continue to grow and blossom into the one language of the world and make Babel fish redundant. ><> :-(
English, like most European languages has its roots in Latin and Greek. It is, however, spiced with Gaelic as well as Garlic. Centuries of invasion by Danes and Saxons, Normans and Romans, Vikings and Goths all added flavour and colour. In the great days of English exploration and colonisation the language was taken all around the world where it rooted and grew. Soon the explorers returned and people from these far cultures visited and settled here bringing words and phrases which were absorbed into English.
From the roots to the branches! As it has many origins so has it many variations. The local dialects just add more colour. From the soft warm West country burr to the hard clipped vowels of Geordie land, from jolly Cockney to witty Scouser, from Norfolk to Brum these are the true glory of the English rose.
Internationally, so the variety of accents multiply and continue to add taste and aroma. This means that it not only grows but subtly changes. Individual words change meaning which can cause confusion and mis-understanding. 'Sad' and 'Gay' were opposite ends of the happiness spectrum, now one means 'Obsessed with trivia' and the other 'Homosexual'. I'm not sure how much of a change that is, but I can see the confusion!:-)
The process continues, and as world-wide communication proliferates so this tongue will continue to grow and blossom into the one language of the world and make Babel fish redundant. ><> :-(
