I can't help but laugh when I am having a conversation in Spanish and someone blurs out "Speak English"! The reason I find this intrusion into my culture hilarious, is that English has very little English components to it. This is not news to the average, high school American graduate. In fact, when discussing the subject with my friends they seem to know all about it. Which then makes me wonder? Where does the ignorance come from?
I decided to write this blog to bring this case and plight to light. How can anyone look down at me and demand that I speak English? As if English was such a pure language? As a matter of fact, there are thousands of Spanish words in the English language. Heck, there are thousands of words from languages around the world in the English language. The truth is the English we speak today is more of an international language. The product of the blending of languages that occurred during our 250 years as a nation. And to be honest, it is nothing unique. Throughout history common languages were developed to facilitate trade by traveling merchants. The same way English is used today as the primary language in International Affairs.
For those that do not know, English is derived from a Germanic language. Meaning, the people that lived in the areas of what is today known as Dutch and Germany; are the ancestors of the English we speak today. Did you know that 60% of the English language comes from Latin? Add Greek and French to the mix and it becomes a sticky web indeed.
During the Iron Age, around 800 B.C., a Celtic people known as Britons inhabited the British Islands. Romans invaded the area in waves commencing in A.D. 43. By the 5th century, Rome was in decline and no longer interested in keeping a stronghold in the region. That gave an opportunity for the Anglo-Saxons to introduce the Old English language. A language that is no longer spoken. Also known by Linguistic Scholars as a "dead language". Further invasions by the Danes, colored the language with Danish. There is also documentation of Scandinavian influences from Denmark and Norway. Known as the Anglo-Normans. The words "them and their" come from Old Norse.
So, as proof of the accuracy of what I am stating here and to jab all the people who have told countless immigrants to "Speak English"; I have composed an abbreviated list of English words and the language they originate from (I could not possibly include them all. To do so would convert this blog into a lengthy dictionary):
LATIN (Italian, French, Romanian, Spanish, Portuguese, et al.)
abdomen, vinegar, exacerbate, acetone, cute, edification, emulate, image, imagination, adequate, equal, equator, equilibrium, equity, equivalent, inadequate, inequality, esteem, estimate, estuary, age, eternal, longevity, mediaeval, agriculture, pilgrim allegro, albino, album, algae, alias, alibi, alien, adultery, alter, alternator, amaretto, ambiguous, amenity, quadrangular, rectangle, triangle, animal, animation, unanimous, annuals, annuity, antenna, aquarium, sewer, arboreal, arc, alarm, armada, armadillo, armor, armory, artifact.
GREEK
abaciscus,, acme, acne, panacea, academia, academy, acrobat, acropolis, aorta, meteor, meteorology, aerobic, aerosol, anestesia, ether, agony, antagonist, agape, analgesic, nostalgia, allegory, parallel, alphabet, amniotic, amphitheater, almond, atypical, Alexander, android, philander, antagonist, antagonize, antibiotic, antebellum, antiquated, antique, antrax, anthropology, philanthropy, synagogue, apostate, aphrodisiac, arachnophobia, anarchy, archangel, architect, archaeology, monarchy, ardor, arson, aristocracy, asterisk, asteroid, astrology, astronaut.
FRENCH
abandon, abash, abatement, abbe, abbess, abbey, abbreviation, abdication, abhor, ability, abjection, able, abnormal, abjection, aboard, abolish, abolition, abominable, abrasion, abridge, abrupt, absence, absent, absolute, action, danger, debit, deceptive, definitive, jacket, jersey, judgement, macabre, machine, maintain, malice, march, mauve, melodrama, zest, zigzag, zany, zenith, wafer, wage, wait, wallet, war, warren, warrior, waste, William, tabernacle, table, tack, tail, tambourine, tapestry, target, taste, tavern.
GERMAN
angst, delikatessen, doppelgänger, fest, gesundheit, kaput, kindergarden, kraut, poltergeist, rucksack, wanderlust, leberwurst, gestapo, nudel, cobalt, streusel, sparerib, waltz, autobahn, Dachshund, pumpernickel, spritz, seltzer, nosh, Schnauzer, bagel, hamster.
SPANISH
Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Montana, Nevada, Texas, Buena Vista, El Paso, fresno, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Monterey, San Antonio, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, buckaroo, corral, chaps, desperado, hackamore, lariat, lasso, quirt, ranch, rodeo, stampede, ten-gallon hat, arroyo, breeze, caldera, canyon, mesa, playa, sierra, temblor, tornado, alligator, barracuda, bronco, burro, cockroach, mosquito, mustang, aficionado, bodega, fiesta, macho, atador, patio, plaza, piñata, pueblo, quinceañera, rumba, silo, tango, telenovela, conquistador, flotilla, renegade, vigilante, cargo, embarcadero, embargo, galleon, chorizo, cilantro, daiquiri, habanero, jalapeño, mojito, oregano, piña colada, salsa, sherry, taco, tequila, vanilla, bonanza, cafeteria, incommunicado, jade, nada, palmetto, peon, platinum, pronto, savvy, siesta, suave, vamoose.
NATIVE AMERICAN
avocado, chili, chipotle, chocolate, cocoa, coyote, guacamole, mesquite, mole, tamale, tomato, shack, canoe, iguana, hurricane, key (Key West), potato, savanna, tobacco, condor, Inca, jerky, pampa, puma, cannibal, cigar, barbecue.
ARABIC
alhambra, albatross, alcatraz, abobe, crimson, tuna.
BASQUE, CATALAN, CELTIC
zorro, paella, camino.
There you have it folks! If all foreign words were deleted from the English language, we would end up speaking gibberish. Perhaps something like the Slavs spoke. We will never know. There is no one alive to tell us. So, my suggestion to our lovely international community is this; if someone of questionable intelligence demands that you "speak English" simply smile and say "I am". Fin.
