[The Story of English – An Overview
Paragraph Questions and Answers
🔵 1. Why is English important in India?
English is important in India because it is used in education, administration, trade and communication. It acts as a national and international link language. It helped Indian leaders from different regions communicate during the freedom struggle. English also gives access to knowledge in science, technology, literature and the humanities. Many Indian languages have borrowed words from English. Therefore, English continues to play an important role in India.
🟢 2. How did English help the growth of Indian nationalism?
The British introduced English for colonial administration, but it later helped the growth of nationalism. Indian leaders read the works of great thinkers in English and developed new political ideas. English enabled leaders from different parts of India to communicate and prepare common plans. It became a unifying language during the freedom movement and helped people organise their struggle against British rule.
🟠 3. How did the Anglo-Saxons contribute to the growth of English?
The Angles, Saxons and Jutes invaded Britain and defeated the Celts. Their language became the foundation of Old English. Since they were mainly farmers, many words connected with agriculture and daily life entered English. Words such as earth, field, work, wood, dog, sheep and shepherd are Anglo-Saxon in origin. Basic words such as the, is, you, here and there also came from their language.
🟣 4. How did the Norman Conquest influence the English language?
The Norman Conquest of 1066 brought French to Britain. French became the language of the royal court, while Latin was used in law courts and ordinary people continued to speak English. Many French words connected with government, food, luxury, arts and sports entered English. For example, beef, mutton, dinner, joy and pleasure are French in origin. This contact greatly enriched the English vocabulary.
🔴 5. How did English become a global language?
English became a global language because it continuously accepted words from many languages. Celtic, Latin, Anglo-Saxon, Danish and French all influenced its growth. The printing press, Bible translations and the works of writers such as Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton and Dr Johnson helped standardise and enrich it. Science and technology continue to add new words. Its flexible grammar, wide vocabulary and use in education, trade and international communication have made English a global language.]