英語(English)，屬于印歐語系中日耳曼語族下的西日耳曼語支，是由古代從丹麥等斯堪的納維亞半島以及德國、荷蘭及周邊移民至不列顛群島的盎格魯、撒克遜和朱特部落的日耳曼人所說的語言演變而來，并通過英國的殖民活動(dòng)傳播到了世界各地。由于在歷史上曾和多種民族語言接觸，它的詞匯從一元變?yōu)槎嘣Z法從“多屈折”變?yōu)?ldquo;少屈折”，語音也發(fā)生了規(guī)律性
根據(jù)以英語作為母語的人數(shù)計(jì)算，英語是最多國家使用的官方語言，英語也是世界上最廣泛的第二語言，也是歐盟，最多國際組織和英聯(lián)邦國家的官方語言，擁有世界第三位的母語使用者人數(shù)，僅少于漢語和西班牙語母語使用者人數(shù)。
在19至20世紀(jì)的，英國和美國在文化、經(jīng)濟(jì)、軍事、政治和科學(xué)在世界上的領(lǐng)先地位使得英語成為一種國際語言。如今，許多國際場合都使用英語做為溝通媒介。英語也是與電腦聯(lián)系最密切的語言，大多數(shù)編程語言都與英語有聯(lián)系，而且隨著網(wǎng)絡(luò)的使用，使英文的使用更普及。英語是聯(lián)合國的工作語言之一。 一些人認(rèn)為低地蘇格蘭語是與英語最接近的一個(gè)獨(dú)立語言，而一些人則認(rèn)為它是英語的一個(gè)方言。與古英語最接近的是古弗里西語，這種語言現(xiàn)在仍然德國北部和荷蘭的弗里斯蘭省使用。蘇格蘭語、低地撒克遜語、丹麥語、德語、荷蘭語、南非荷蘭語和英語也很接近。擁有丹麥血統(tǒng)的法國的諾曼人于11世紀(jì)征服英格蘭王國，帶來數(shù)萬法語詞匯和拉丁語詞匯，很大程度地豐富了英語詞匯外，相對也驅(qū)使不少原生的日耳曼語匯作廢。
英語小故事
《告訴他們不要把帽子給我》
Tell Them Not to Bring My Hat Here
Mr Smith is a shopkeeper and has a few shops in the town .He managed them well and got much money until ha was hurt in a traffic accident .After he came out of hospital ,people find he often forgets something and he isn’t as able as before .
One day he was told that it would be an important officials birthday the next day .He told his secretary to buy some expensive presents .And later on he forget the date and that afternoon ,when he was having lunch ,his secretary told him about it .He became angry and told the woman to call his driver at once .He made the man drive as fast as possible .Bad luck !An accident happened and they had to stop to wait .When they got to the restaurant where the birthday was held ,it was two .And the party had been on for half an hour .He hurried to get off .Suddenly he stopped to tell his driver ,“Oh ,dear !I have left my hat at home .It isn’t polite to go to the party without a hat .Go and ring them up .Tell them to bring it here at once !”
“But you’re wearing your hat ,Mr Smith ,”said the driver .
The man touched his head and found his driver was right .So he said ,“Well ,then .Go and tell them on the telephone not to bring my hat here .”
《我們是我們班最溫和的》
We’re the Most Modest in Our Class
Peter lives next to Herry and they study in the same class .They go to school and come home together .They like playing football and spend much time on it .When they’re in the classroom ,they hardly listen to what their teacher’s say .Of course they only concern themselves about the football matches .Of course they fall behind their classmates .
The summer holiday began last week .Peter’s grandma called the boy and said it was cool in her village and told him to go there .He hadn’t seen her for years and missed her very much .He asked Herry to go there with him .The boy had never lived in the country and agreed .After a four-hour bus they got to a small village between a river and a few mountains .The old woman was very happy when she saw them .She brought out some fruit and nuts before she cooked the chick and fish .After a good dinner Peter showed his friend around the village .And they had a good swim in the cool river .
After supper the old woman began to ase Peter about his life in the school .Of course he said he was the best in the class .It made the best in the class .It made his grandma happy .She sai ,“Be modest ,Peter !”
“You’re right ,granny ,”said the boy .“Herry and I are the most modest in our class !”