English as a Global Language
Roughly, what proportion of the world's population is fluent or competent in English?
Out of the world's approximately 7.8 billion inhabitants, 1.35 billion speak English. The majority aren't native English speakers, however. About 360 million people speak English as their first language. The most common first language is Chinese, followed distantly by Spanish and then, in third, comes English.
Why is the English Language Day celebrated on April 23rd?
It is the date "traditionally observed as both the birthday and date of death of William Shakespeare".
Which English word is the most commonly used word in the world?
OK
Say it in American English:
lorry
truck
who said this quote:
All that glitters is not gold.
William Shakespeare
In how many countries is English the official language?
It is the official language in 67 countries and 27 non-sovereign countries such as Hong Kong.
The English language is conventionally divided into three historical periods: Old English, Middle English and Modern English. In which of these periods did William Shakespeare write his plays?
Modern English
The period of Modern English extends from the 1500s to the present day. Shakespeare wrote his plays between 1590 and 1613.
"madam, level, racecar"
What is common for these words?
Palindrome - A word that reads the same backwards
Say it in American English:
bill (restaurant)
check
If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.
Margaret Thatcher
Which country contains the largest English-speaking population in the world?
English is spoken by upwards of 350 million people in urban areas of India.
What language does English originate from?
Old High German, Old Norse, and Anglo Norman
Which letter is the most commonly used in the English language?
The letter ‘E’. One out of 8 of all the letters written in English is ‘e’.
Say it in American English:
block of flats
apartment building
Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.
Albert Einstein
Why English is called the language of the sky?
All pilots must identify themselves in English during international flights. Likewise, all air traffic controllers at international airports must be able to communicate with the pilots in English.
From which Old English phrase did the word “Goodbye” originate from?
“God be with you”
Which English word has three consecutive double letters?
Bookkeeper
Say it in American English:
biscuit
cookie
That’s one small step for a man, a giant leap for mankind.
Neil Armstrong
How many words does English have approximately?
There are currently about one million words in the English language.
Which American dictionary publisher was largely responsible for American spelling differing from British spelling?
Webster. (In 1806, Noah Webster published the first American dictionary, A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language, which was full of laughable suggestions for streamlining American spelling).
What’s the longest word in English without a vowel?
Rhythms
Say it in American English:
postcode
zip code
Please tell, who said this American quote:
'Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.'
Benjamin Franklin