what is english

English is a West Germanic language that originally developed in early medieval England. It is the principal language of many countries including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and others. English has become the most widely spoken language in the world when considering both native and non-native speakers, with over 400 million native speakers and over a billion speaking it as a second language. English uses the Latin alphabet with 26 letters and has a vocabulary heavily influenced by Norman French and Latin, though its core grammar and everyday words remain Germanic in origin. It evolved through stages: Old English, influenced by Anglo-Saxon and Norse languages; Middle English, influenced by French; and Modern English, which began around the 1500s. Today, English is a global lingua franca used extensively in international business, science, technology, diplomacy, entertainment, and the internet. It is officially recognized in many countries and international organizations and is considered the world's most widely used second language. In summary, English is a historically Germanic language that has grown through a complex history to become a dominant worldwide means of communication.