THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
English originates from the language of the Germanic tribes that migrated to the British Isles in the 5th century. This old English,
or Anglo-Saxon, was subsequently influenced by other colonisers from
Scandinavia (8th and 9th centuries) and Normandy (11th century), leading to the many varieties of Middle English that were in use
until the 15th century. The imposition of the London dialect and the
unifying effect of the printing press led to the establishment of the Modern English used by Shakespeare.
It is estimated that there are between 300 and 400 million mother tongue speakers of English. 1.9 billion people (almost one third of the population of the world ) have at least basic knowledge of the language, given its predominance in international communication, science, business, aviation, show business, diplomacy and the Internet.
In addition to being the world’s most taught and understood language,
it is the official or co-official language of numerous countries:
Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana,
Brunei, Cameroon, Canada, China (Hong Kong), Dominican Republic, Fiji,
Gambia, Ghana, Granada, Guyana, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya,
Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands,
Mauritius, Micronesia, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, New Zealand, Pakistan,
Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis,
Santa Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Swaziland,
Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Kingdom,
United States, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Dixon Formación provides In-company English Courses, Intensive English Courses, Preparation Courses for Official English Exams, Immersion Courses and an English Summer Course in London.
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