Thirteen Fun & Surprising Facts About The English Language

Have you gotten tired of practicing different kinds of modal verbs at your Los Angeles English language school? Would you like to discover a more interesting side of the language? We have some exciting news for you.

While learning English can be excruciatingly boring with all those rules and exceptions to them, there are a lot of intriguing, and sometimes even weird, facts about the English language many people probably aren’t aware of. Keep reading the article below as we share 13 fascinating details about the English language. Read on!

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‍WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE?

There is a long history behind the English language. Through time, it’s evolved and grown to be one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. Today, approximately one in four people speak some English. Unbelievable, isn’t it?

Here are some other amazing facts about the language:

1. English has around one million words. However, an average English speaker uses only between 20,000 and 30,000 words in their daily communication.

2. Each year, around 4,000 words are added to the dictionary. For instance, the word lol was included in the Oxford English Dictionary back in 2011.

3. Most English words originate from French and Old English. After the Normans defeated the English army in 1066, French became the official language in Britain. Simultaneously, peasants and lower classes continued to use Old English which contained Germanic vocabulary. This coexistence eventually led to Middle English.  

4. William Shakespeare, a famous 16th-century English playwright, invented over 1,000 words, including birthplace, blushing, undress, torture, cold-blooded, etc.

5. The closest relative of the English language today is Frisian. People still speak this language in only three small areas of Germany and the Netherlands.

6. In the United States, English is recognized as the official language only in some states and not at the federal level. On the other hand, English is used officially in 67 countries.

7. The word Goodbye originated from an Old English phrase that means “God be with you”.

8. Some of the oldest words in the English language are still in use today. These include I, love, black, mother, fire, hand, and hear. Some of these words date back to 900 AD.

9. Throughout history, English words have changed their meanings. For example, the word awful was derived from the phrase “full of awe” and meant “inspiring wonder”, while nice used to mean “silly”.

10. The most common adjective in English is good, while time is the most frequent noun.

11. Some studies indicate that the most common English letter E is 56 times more frequently used than the letter Q, the least common English letter.

12. Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis is the longest word in English. This medical term refers to a lung condition caused by inhaling ash or dust.

13. It may seem that the command “Go!” is the shortest sentence in English, but it is elliptical i.e. it doesn’t include the pronoun you. That’s why “I am.” is considered the shortest complete (non-elliptical) English sentence, as it doesn’t leave anything out.

WHERE CAN I FIND A LOS ANGELES ENGLISH LANGUAGE SCHOOL THAT CAN MAKE LEARNING THE LANGUAGE MORE FUN?

These facts seem impressive? Eager to learn more? Come to the College of English Language and embrace the amusing side of English. Our Los Angeles teachers are highly qualified, warm, and patient, and they’ll prepare you for the English-speaking world out there.

After classes, you can explore Elysian Park without feeling drained or overburdened with unfathomable grammar rules. You’ll feel confident you have practical knowledge and be ready to implement it. Visit us today! Let’s learn English together!