Do you know how many of the worlds population speaks English?
One out of every five people on earth can speak English.
Spoken in: Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States and many other countries.
Total Speakers: 1 billion–1.5 billion vs. 500 million who speak Spanish.
Official Language of: Liberia, several Commonwealth countries De jure, non-exclusive: Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, South Africa, Kenya, India, Pakistan, Philippines,
English is the most widely taught and understood language in the world.
English is the dominant international language in communications, science, business, aviation, entertainment, diplomacy and the Internet.
It has been one of the official languages of the United Nations since its founding in 1945.
English also is the most widely spoken Germanic language.
English is the traditional language of 67.2% of the worlds population.
English is the primary language in Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia (Australian English), the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Belize, the British Indian Ocean Territory, the British Virgin Islands, Canada (Canadian English), the Cayman Islands, Dominica, the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guernsey, Guyana, Isle of Man, Jamaica (Jamaican English), Jersey, Montserrat, Nauru, New Zealand (New Zealand English), Ireland (Hiberno-English), Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the United Kingdom (various forms of British English), the U.S. Virgin Islands the United States (various forms of American English), and Zimbabwe.
In many other countries, where English is not a first language, it is an official language.
English is the most widely learned and used foreign language, and as such, some linguists believe that it is no longer the exclusive cultural sign of ‘native English speakers’, but is rather a language that is absorbing aspects of cultures worldwide as it continues to grow.
Because English is so widely spoken, it has often been referred to as a "global language".
By international treaty, English is the official language for aircraft/airport and maritime communication, as well as being one of the official languages of both the European Union and the United Nations, and of most international athletic organizations, including the Olympic Committee. Books, magazines, and newspapers written in English are available in many countries around the world.
http://www.arikah.com/encyclopedia/English_language
X-Cereal-Killa-X-Sheesh can you not read a question? Do you or do you not know how many of the worlds population speaks English?
Wanda The Wicked-Dang postage due? Throw me a bone here already.
You are correct.I am now living in Hungary and just about everyone under the age of 30 speaks English. It would be more but when it was communist over here it was really not a popular thing to learn, the gov. frowned on it.I even see 2 year olds learning! Everyone has English dictionaries in their homes so that they can look up and learn new words. People love to hear my American accent.It is funny..
July 6th, 2010 at 2:50 am
Looks like you have answered your own question, who really knows? ♥
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July 6th, 2010 at 3:25 am
Spanish cannot be ignored!!
Thats why I have my Espanol option when I want it down there!
All Mexicans are Mestizo’s!
Especially when we have a big Spanish speaking population in the U.S.!!!
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July 6th, 2010 at 3:52 am
alot!
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July 6th, 2010 at 4:18 am
Erm, yea to the spaniard above me, yea spanish can easily be ignored. English is the biggest language of the world. I don’t see Spanish catching up to that language any time soon.
FYI Good question, and great facts, I am proud to see my language spread across the world in places I didn’t know had our language. Thanks for this!
BTW Check out this youtube video. It’s a very patriotic video about our language-
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sEJfS1v-fU0
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July 6th, 2010 at 4:34 am
That’s it…majority wins…….SPEAK ENGLISH!!!!!!!!!
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July 6th, 2010 at 5:17 am
Actually 1/5th of the words population speaks CHinese too, and it is an international language. Cantonese is or use to be the language of trade in south Eastern Asia. MAndarin may have taken it’s place. I do take your statement to heart though. It’s now the standard language for international flights. French airport’s now needs to speak English and the Chinese demand all their Pilots learn better English. And I do agree, the world is being forced to learn english, because of the internet. I have insulted Tamils in Sri Lanka. Hindi Indians, Iranians, and Mexicans from the comfort of my own home with out learning a foreign language right here in Y!A. Perhaps I should stop voicing my political beliefs before the whole world decide to join together and attack us Americans.
Oh yeah, I also have insulted both, Israelis and the Palestinians too. The funny thing, was I have only been violated discussing politics for insulting the English. Well Sid Viscious was asking for it.
edit: Did you add Israel requiring their people to learn both Hebrew and English?
edit again. Mexican Bandit. Maybe you should rephrase your statement,"All Mexicans are Mestizo’s". There are some Indians in Mexico who might not be pleased with it. Especially since the Mexican government tried to wipe out the Indians in teh CHiapas area in the 90’s and there is only a truce with the Zapitista rebels.
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July 6th, 2010 at 5:24 am
What’s the point of asking if you know the answer?
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July 6th, 2010 at 5:52 am
I too am f ing tired of seeing Aqua above water fountains. and somebody kill dora the explorer please
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July 6th, 2010 at 6:37 am
Well if it’s the English language that they are looking to wipe out good luck to them. I can see they have a lot more destruction to go about banishing the English language.
Thanks for the additional info.
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July 6th, 2010 at 7:08 am
You are correct.I am now living in Hungary and just about everyone under the age of 30 speaks English. It would be more but when it was communist over here it was really not a popular thing to learn, the gov. frowned on it.I even see 2 year olds learning! Everyone has English dictionaries in their homes so that they can look up and learn new words. People love to hear my American accent.It is funny..
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