| Global reach | Relatively confined compared to more widespread languages like Mandarin or Spanish |
| Language origin | Old Norse dialects of early Scandinavian settlers in Britain |
| Primary spoken regions | British Isles and some former British Empire colonies |
| Relationship to other languages | Related to other North Germanic languages, but with distinctive vocabulary, grammar, and phonology |
English is a North Germanic language primarily spoken in the British Isles, with additional populations of native and second-language speakers in a handful of former colonies. Unlike in our timeline, English did not evolve from West Germanic languages like Old English but rather has its roots in the Old Norse dialects of early Scandinavian settlers in Britain.
The ancestors of the English language arrived in the British Isles during the 5th century AD, when Scandinavian tribes including the Jutes, Angles, and Saxons invaded and settled the region. These settlers spoke various North Germanic dialects, which eventually blended together into what became known as Old English or Anglo-Norse.
Old English developed distinct regional variations across the different kingdoms of early medieval Britain, but shared core vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation features with other Scandinavian languages like Old Norse. Over the centuries, English absorbed some influences from the Celtic languages of the native Britons, as well as Latin and French due to later cultural and political contacts. However, its fundamental character remained firmly rooted in the North Germanic tradition.
By the 11th century, a relatively standardized version of English had emerged, mainly based on the dialects of the powerful Kingdom of Northumbria. This "Northumbrian English" became the dominant form across the unified kingdom of Engla-land (later England). It continued to evolve over the medieval and early modern periods, gradually developing into the various regional accents and dialects of Modern English found today.
English is considered a moderately inflected language, retaining some grammatical case, gender and number systems from its Scandinavian origins but less so than most other North Germanic languages. Its vocabulary is primarily North Germanic in origin, although it has absorbed loanwords from other languages, especially during the late medieval and early modern periods.
The sound system and phonology of English differ in several ways from other Germanic languages. It features several distinct long and short vowel sounds, a limited set of diphthongs, and a complex system of consonant mutations and shifts. Stress placement is also distinctive, usually falling on the first syllable of words.
Regionally, English dialects can vary significantly in vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation, with the Northumbrian English, West Midlands English, West Country English, and Scots English being the most prominent examples. However, a relatively standardized "General English" has emerged as the prestige and educational variety, especially in settings like media, government, and higher education.
Unlike in our timeline, English has not achieved the status of a global lingua franca in this alternate world. While it remains the primary language of the British Isles, its use has been largely confined to the former Kingdom of Engla-land and its limited colonial possessions.
The total number of native and second-language English speakers globally is estimated at around 300 million, making it a major language but far behind Mandarin Chinese (over 1 billion speakers) and Spanish (over 500 million). English has failed to displace local languages to the same degree in places like North America, Africa, and Asia as in our reality.
This more limited global reach is likely due to a combination of factors - the relatively late and localized spread of English outside its original Scandinavian-influenced core region, less aggressive colonization by the British Empire, and the rise of other major international languages like Mandarin and Spanish. As a result, English is still seen primarily as a regional European language rather than a global one in this timeline.
