Q. Discuss the salient features of English language.
Answer:
Among the different languages of the world, English is the most widely spoken and written
language of the world. Today, English occupies the prestigious place of an international language. It is
utilized by the largest number of the people of many nations in all the five continents in the world.
The reason, which comes to our notice is that, it is not due to the qualities of its own but there
are important historical, political and economical reasons for its worldwide popularity. The other
obvious reason is that English speaking nations, like England and America have made it prominent.
However, no language can become so important unless it has some outstanding and special
characteristics for its phenomenal growth and popularity. The main characteristics for this stride of
English language are as under:
1)Receptiveness 2) Heterogeneousness 3) Simplicity of Inflexion 4) Fixed Word Order 5) Use of
Periphrasis 6) Growth of Intonation 7) Masculinity
Of course, as Jesperson has rightly claimed, “It is impossible to characteristics a language in one
formula.”
1. Receptiveness
The first outstanding characteristic of English language is receptiveness. This is regarded as
extraordinary feature of the language. It has accepted and adopted words from Asian, European,
African, Indian, Japanese, Chinese and other languages. English has kept open-door policy of
accepting words from classical languages like Latin, Greek and Sanskrit.
2. Heterogeneousness
Heterogeneousness means mixed form or the lack of purity. English language contains words
from so many other languages that it has become the most mixed language. Original words from
other languages have crept into English. Some words have retained their original meanings and
some words have changed their meanings. The spelling and pronunciations have also changed.
Eg. The word ‘tur’ from French has become ‘tower’ in modern English.
3. Simplicity of Inflexion
The next important characteristic of English is its simple inflexion. Inflexion means that it can
indicate the relationship of words into a sentence with only the minimum change of change in their
shapes. In this regard we can quote that Chinese has the minimum inflexions but in other European
languages, there are still inflexion. However, English has lost number of inflexion. E.g. India – Indian.
4. Fixed Word Order
Another characteristic of English language is its fixed word order. This arrangement becomes
necessary for proper relationship of the words in a sentence, and to avoid ambiguity. The place of
each word in a sentence decides its relationship to others.
5. Development of Intonation
One of the significant qualities of English is the great development of intonations to express
different shades of meanings. Intonation can easily change the meaning of a sentence completely
Intonations can be described as the pitch and intensity or the tone of the voice.
Answer:
Among the different languages of the world, English is the most widely spoken and written
language of the world. Today, English occupies the prestigious place of an international language. It is
utilized by the largest number of the people of many nations in all the five continents in the world.
The reason, which comes to our notice is that, it is not due to the qualities of its own but there
are important historical, political and economical reasons for its worldwide popularity. The other
obvious reason is that English speaking nations, like England and America have made it prominent.
However, no language can become so important unless it has some outstanding and special
characteristics for its phenomenal growth and popularity. The main characteristics for this stride of
English language are as under:
1)Receptiveness 2) Heterogeneousness 3) Simplicity of Inflexion 4) Fixed Word Order 5) Use of
Periphrasis 6) Growth of Intonation 7) Masculinity
Of course, as Jesperson has rightly claimed, “It is impossible to characteristics a language in one
formula.”
1. Receptiveness
The first outstanding characteristic of English language is receptiveness. This is regarded as
extraordinary feature of the language. It has accepted and adopted words from Asian, European,
African, Indian, Japanese, Chinese and other languages. English has kept open-door policy of
accepting words from classical languages like Latin, Greek and Sanskrit.
2. Heterogeneousness
Heterogeneousness means mixed form or the lack of purity. English language contains words
from so many other languages that it has become the most mixed language. Original words from
other languages have crept into English. Some words have retained their original meanings and
some words have changed their meanings. The spelling and pronunciations have also changed.
Eg. The word ‘tur’ from French has become ‘tower’ in modern English.
3. Simplicity of Inflexion
The next important characteristic of English is its simple inflexion. Inflexion means that it can
indicate the relationship of words into a sentence with only the minimum change of change in their
shapes. In this regard we can quote that Chinese has the minimum inflexions but in other European
languages, there are still inflexion. However, English has lost number of inflexion. E.g. India – Indian.
4. Fixed Word Order
Another characteristic of English language is its fixed word order. This arrangement becomes
necessary for proper relationship of the words in a sentence, and to avoid ambiguity. The place of
each word in a sentence decides its relationship to others.
5. Development of Intonation
One of the significant qualities of English is the great development of intonations to express
different shades of meanings. Intonation can easily change the meaning of a sentence completely
Intonations can be described as the pitch and intensity or the tone of the voice.
