Dominance of English in the world

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

1. The British Empire -> English being language in Canada, USA, Australia, NZ and has official status in many other countries, where the native tongue is a different.
2. The rise of Britain's former colonies in North America to being a super power (especially the winning of WWII).
3. The immense cultural output of the US that's very popular all over the world because it's easily digested (movies e. g.).
4. The rise of the internet.
5. English is a language that's easily acquired on a basic level, and there is quite a big tolerance (imho) towards non-native speakers for making errors -> which will cause the language to degenerate over the long-term and cause its eventual downfall.

[Fwapper]

4. The rise of the internet.

There are more Chinese internet users than American ones :P

But as for English it's got to be the British Empire, it did cover a quarter of the surface of the Earth after all...

North America and Australia are obvious first thoughts, but the Empire also brought English to much of Africa, and also the Indian subcontinent which has a population heading towards 2 billion. There are more people in the world who speak English as a second language than those who speak it as their first - and this is from the Empire. The language continues to grow from the cultural influences of these (relatively) new English speakers - not just from the US :)

[InsaneApache]

Good points, well made.

One of the reasons it's the official language of India is the sheer diversity of languages spoken there. It made sense after the Raj to keep the civil service (one of the best in the world) 'in situ', as it were.

[AlexanderSextus]

You should include a section on Hip-Hop culture's impact on english as well. Countless phrases and words were created in English because of it. For example: "whats up" "Bling", "i'll hit you up" instead of "i'll call you" etc.

There is a big difference between early/mid 20th century english and late 20th and early 21st century english and hip hop is a big part of that.

[InsaneApache]

You should include a section on Hip-Hop culture's impact on english as well. Countless phrases and words were created in English because of it. For example: "whats up" "Bling", "i'll hit you up" instead of "i'll call you" etc.

There is a big difference between early/mid 20th century english and late 20th and early 21st century english and hip hop is a big part of that.

Good lord.

[AlexanderSextus]

Like it or not, everyone uses words in english that have roots in hip hop. Ever say "yo" to someone instead of hello?

[Samurai Waki]

Actually, I doubt that IA ever has

[miotas]

Like it or not, everyone uses words in english that have roots in hip hop. Ever say "yo" to someone instead of hello?

"Yo" and "I'll hit you up" sound like something a drug dealer would say.