Explain the global dominance of English and identify four languages that significantly influenced its development.

Question One

a) English has achieved widespread global usage due to several key factors. Historically, the British Empire's colonial expansion spread English across continents. Economically, it became the dominant language of international trade, finance, and business. Technologically, English is the primary language of science, computing, and the internet. Culturally, its prevalence in global media, entertainment, and popular culture further cemented its status. Politically, it serves as a working language for numerous international organizations, making it a crucial lingua franca for communication between diverse linguistic groups.

b) Four languages that significantly affected the development of English from Old to Modern English are:

• Old Norse: Introduced vocabulary related to everyday life and legal terms (e.