English language day

 English Language Day is celebrated on 23 April because it is Shakespeare's birthday, and the anniversary of his death. As well as being the English language's most famous playwright, Shakespeare also had a huge impact on modern-day English.  Shakespeare's creativity with language meant he contributed hundreds of new words and phrases that are still used today. For example, 'gossip', 'fashionable' and 'lonely' were all first used by Shakespeare. He also invented phrases like 'break the ice', 'all our yesterdays', 'faint-hearted' and 'love is blind'. Can you guess what they mean?

The story of the English language began in the fifth century when Germanic tribes invaded Celtic-speaking Britain and brought their languages with them. Later, Scandinavian Vikings invaded and settled with their languages too. In 1066 William I, from modern-day France, became king, and Norman-French became the language of the courts and official activity. People couldn’t understand each other at first, because the lower classes continued to use English while the upper classes spoke French, but gradually French began to influence English. An estimated 45 per cent of all English words have a French origin. By Shakespeare's time, Modern English had developed, printing had been invented and people had to start to agree on 'correct' spelling and vocabulary. 

The spread of English all over the world has an ugly history but a rich and vibrant present. During the European colonial period, several European countries, including England expanded their empires. They stole land, labour and resources from people across Africa, Asia, the Americas and Oceania. By the time former British colonies began to gain independence in the mid-20th century, English had become established in their institutions. Many brilliant writers from all over the world wrote in English, telling their stories of oppression, justice, equality, freedom and identity from their own perspectives. 'International English' refers to the English that is used and developed by everyone in the world and doesn't just belong to native speakers. 

If you're reading this, English is your language too!