Facts and Figures about English

• There are 300 million people who use English as a second language.
• A further 100 million people speak it fluently as a foreign language.
• English is used as an official or semi-official language in over 60 countries.
• English is used in 85% of the world's organizations.
• While English is the dominant language on the Web (40%), the presence of other languages is growing.
  
• Over two-thirds of the world's scientists write in English.
• Over 80% of all the information stored electronically around the world is in English.
• English radio programmes are received by over 150 million people in 120 countries.
• 50 million children study English as a foreign language at primary schools around the world.
• At secondary level they are joined by another 80 million children.
• Around the globe English is the main language of books, newspapers, airports and air-traffic control, advertising, business, medicine, technology, diplomacy, sports, pop music, and academic conferences.
• More than two-thirds of the world's mail is written in English.
• Many English words have totally changed meaning over the centuries- here are a few examples with their earlier meaning:

treacle- wild animal
villain- farm labourer
cheater- rent collector
sly -wise
taxation -fault finding
naughty - worth nothing

• Many English words have been taken from other languages. Here are a few examples:
  

ballot-Italian
garage-French
kiosk-Turkish
tycoon -Japanese
slim -Dutch
veranda -Hindi
sofa -Arabic
marmalade –Portuguese
window-Icelandic