Surprising Facts About Common Language
Language is a living thing that constantly grows, shrinks, and changes shape. The words we use every day often have histories or rules that we never stop to think about. Here are five surprising facts about how we communicate.
- The Most Common Word in English is THE: In almost every written or spoken English context, the word the takes the top spot. It accounts for about seven percent of all words used. The second most common word is of, followed closely by and.
- Shakespeare Invented Over 1,700 Words: We use words like manager, eyeball, lonely, and swagger without realizing we have William Shakespeare to thank for them. He frequently turned nouns into verbs or connected words that had never been used together before.
- The Quick Brown Fox is a Pangram: The famous sentence The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog is known as a pangram. This means it contains every single letter of the alphabet at least once. This is why it is often used to test typewriters and computer fonts.
- English is the Language of the Sky: Regardless of where they are from or what their native tongue is, all commercial pilots on international flights must be able to speak and communicate in English. This is a global safety standard to ensure clear communication with air traffic control.
- Words Without Rhymes: English can be a frustrating language for poets. There are several common words that have no perfect rhyme. Some of the most famous examples include orange, purple, silver, and month.