The english language
English is spoken as a native language by more than 300 million people, most of them liveng in North America, the British Isles, Australia, New Zeland, the Carribean and South Africa. In several of these countries engkish is not the sole language (e.g. in Canada – French is also spoken: many Irish and Welsh speak the Celtic language). But English is the second language for governmental, commercial, social and educational activities in the contries where native language isn’t English.
In about 25 countries English is used as official language (either it is the sole official language there, or it shares that status with other languages).
Most of these countries are former British territories. Even more widely English is studied and used as a foreign language. Half of the world’s scientific literature is in English. It is the language of automation and computer technology, the major language of diplomacy and bussines.
English-speaking countries
Country |
Capital Language |
Country |
Capital Language |
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
London (English) |
Botswana |
Gaborone (English, Setswana) |
The Republic of Ireland |
Dublin (English) |
Cameroon |
Yaonde (English, French,African language groups) |
The United States of America |
Washington (English) |
Kenya |
Nairobi (English, Kiswahili) |
New Zeland |
Wellington (English, Maori) |
Liberia |
Monrovia (English, some 20 ethnic group languages) |
Malta |
Valletta (English, Maltese) |
Namibia |
Windhoek (English, Afrikaans, German, Oshivambo) |
Maldives |
Male (Dhivehi (Maldivian), (also English in Government)) |
Rwanda |
Kigali (Kinyarwanda, French, English) |
Australia |
Canberra (English) |
Nigeria |
Abuja (English, Hausa, Yoruba, Fulani) |
India |
New Delhi (English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Telugu and Urdu, and others) |
Bangladesh |
Dhaka (Bengali, English) |
Philippines |
Manila (Pilipino, English, Pampangan, Pangasinan, Igorot, Maranao) |
Lebanon |
Beirut (Arabic, French, Armenian, Assyrian, (also English)) |
Kuwait |
Kuwait (Arabic (also English)) |
Jamaica |
Kingston (English, Creole) |
Singapore |
Singapore (Chinese, Malay, Tamil and English) |
Malaysia |
Kuala Lumpur (Malay, Chinese, Tamil, (also English)) |
Sri Lanka |
Colombo(Sinhala, Tamil, (also English in Government)) |
Barbados |
Bridgetown (English) |
Jordan |
Amman (Arabic, (also English among upper-class)) |
Grenada |
St. Georges (English and French) |
Falkland Islands |
Stanley (English) |
Puerto Rico |
San Juan (Spanish, English) |
Task 1. Fill in the crossword using the information from Appendix 1.
2. Mr Clinton's country. 3. See 6 down. 4. Where both English and French are spoken. 6. (with 3 down) Mr Mandela's country |
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Across 1. European country whose capital is London. 5. African country whose capital is Nairobi. 7. Nation which is also a continent.
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