I don´t know but I guess that there are differences between American, British and other versions of English in this case. Maybe American is influenced by Spanish, but I don´t think Spanish influence British so much right now. Maybe I´m wrong but I think I´m right.
Are there some languages which influence English today?
I think you're right, Swede; individual varieties of English are most heavily influenced by immediate neighbors. British English is probably much more influenced by French. I believe I've heard that spellings like "programme" are a result of that influence. South African English apparently borrows lots of words from Afrikaans (as you would expect) and probably native African languages, New Zealand English is often peppered with Maori terms, and so on.
Uriel, you're right about South African and NZ English (at least, as far as I know!) but I don't think that Brit. English is influenced much by French any more - in the past certainly, but not now. I would say that the biggest influence on Brit. Eng. these days is US English, which we hear every day on TV.
English now influences French more than French influences English.
French is a dying language, it is gradually becoming extinct, like many French things.
French is a dying language, it is gradually becoming extinct, like many French things.
=>English now influences French more than French influences English.
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LOL that doesn't matter ! You got 80% of your words from French you're only giving them back!You sick ass.
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LOL that doesn't matter ! You got 80% of your words from French you're only giving them back!You sick ass.
Don't think it's 80% Sander, but otherwise the point is valid...
French is not dying.
French is not dying.
Around 70% to 75% of the English vocabulary is of Latin origin ,and reached English mainly through French. :-)
Candy, can you write a text of 50 words without using Latin loans? :-) (that's a challenge)
Candy, can you write a text of 50 words without using Latin loans? :-) (that's a challenge)
http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutenglish/proportion?view=uk
Latin, including modern scientific and technical Latin: 28.24%
French, including Old French and early Anglo-French: 28.3%
Old and Middle English, Old Norse, and Dutch: 25%
Greek: 5.32%
No etymology given: 4.03%
Derived from proper names: 3.28%
All other languages contributed less than 1%
Latin, including modern scientific and technical Latin: 28.24%
French, including Old French and early Anglo-French: 28.3%
Old and Middle English, Old Norse, and Dutch: 25%
Greek: 5.32%
No etymology given: 4.03%
Derived from proper names: 3.28%
All other languages contributed less than 1%
Candy, can you write a text of 50 words without using Latin loans? :-) (that's a challenge) >>
That would be difficult!
Having said that, do you know Churchill's famous 1940 speech "we will fight on the beaches, in the fields" etc? Supposedly, only the last word of the speech (surrender) doesn't come from Old English. (although I;ve never checked this myself)
That would be difficult!
Having said that, do you know Churchill's famous 1940 speech "we will fight on the beaches, in the fields" etc? Supposedly, only the last word of the speech (surrender) doesn't come from Old English. (although I;ve never checked this myself)
We had a topic about this subject a while ago,and it really suprised me how many loans English had :-).
<<French is a dying language, it is gradually becoming extinct, like many French things.>>
Over 60 million native speakers isn't exactly my definition of "dying".
Over 60 million native speakers isn't exactly my definition of "dying".
Although it's just about impossible to write without using Old English words, because they are the basic words that link other words together, it's just as hard to write without using French words, because they give the real meaning to a text.
Back to topic, I would agree that the most influential language on my variety of English would definitely be Spanish.
Back to topic, I would agree that the most influential language on my variety of English would definitely be Spanish.
I think the greatest influence on English from modern French was in the mid-18th Century. However, a large number of French culinary terms seem to have entered the English language more latterly because the nouveau riche believe its better to have coq au vin than chicken with wine!
I'm not even sure why the French have such a name for food, when I've been the food I've had has invariably been vile; even the salads have been crawling with bugs because they haven't been washed properly- how hard is that for Christ's Sake!
I'm not even sure why the French have such a name for food, when I've been the food I've had has invariably been vile; even the salads have been crawling with bugs because they haven't been washed properly- how hard is that for Christ's Sake!