сжать текст English is one of the most important and widely used languages. British colonial expansion in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries took the English language all over the…

Сжать текст English is one of the most important and widely used languages. British colonial expansion in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries took the English language all over the world. Except Britain it became the official (or the second official) language of the USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa and other countries. Economic, political and cultural influence of these countries in the world contributed to further spread of English in the 20th century. As a result we have a unique phenomenon in history: 253 about 1 500 million people - over a third of the world's population - live in countries where English is used and taught. In fact it has become the language of international intercourse. The English we study (the model used in the teaching of English overseas) is known as Standard English'. Standard English is the official language used in Great Britain. It is taught at schools and universities. It is used in literature, by the press, the radio and television and spoken by educated people. Besides Standard English there are very many local dialects in Great Britain. Under the influence of Standard English taught at school and the speech cultivated by the radio, television and the cinema the local dialects are undergoing a change. The old local dialects are mainly preserved in the countryside and for the most part in the speech of elderly people. A few words should be said about Cockney English2. It is known at least by name to a large number of people living outside the English speaking countries. Cockney is a class dialect spoken by about two million working-class Londoners -- Cockneys -- in the East End of London. It differs from Standard English by its peculiar pronunciation. As a result of geographical separation English spoken outside the British Isles has developed certain differences in vocabulary and pronunciation but less in grammar. Differences in geographical features, in the flora and fauna and in the way of life call for new words which find their way in the general English vocabulary. Contacts with other languages have also left their mark on English outside Great Britain. Contacts with various native languages, as for example, with Red Indian language in America, the languages of the Australian aborigenes and the Maori in New Zealand have introduced new elements into the English vocabulary.