Why Is English So Complex?

Many native speakers of English are unaware of the complexity of the language or how it came to be so rich.

English began as a simple Indo-European language with Germanic roots.  Later refinements were made as the English were invaded and conquered by speakers of other languages such as Old Norse, Latin, and French.  (This is why, for example,  most speakers of Latin-derived languages will recognize their own language's roots in English words of three or more syllables.)

Over time, words from other languages, notably Arabic, found their way into English.  And eventually, as a result of the invention of the printing press and other technological advancements, English became more formalized and standardized into what is now "modern" English.  Then, as is usually the case with most languages, further refinements came about as the result of English being a  "living" language, with regional variations and changing speaking patterns, a process which continues to enrich the language.

It is this richness, however, which makes English one of the most difficult languages to learn, even for the children of native speakers.  English has so many idiomatic expressions and irregularities compared to most languages.  And often, a formal education in the English language is necessary to obtain optimum fluency and proficiency.

This can cause many non-native speakers some concern.  They will often consider learning English too difficult to undertake when not essential to their livelihood or when it is not required in the normal course of their lives.  For example, seldom do people say "I want to learn English simply because it is a beautiful language",  as do many people when they talk about other languages such as Spanish or French.   Non-native speakers, therefore, are usually highly motivated to learn English despite its challenges, since their reasons for studying English are more compelling than for those studying many other languages.

We hope this site can help in their attempt to conquer the monster that English so often seems like, especially to non-native speakers.

Just remember,  New Learner,  even native speakers often struggle to learn English well,  and non-native speakers like Yourself often end up learning English better than natives!  And also, once you master English, you will be using what most people consider the richest and most versatile language in the world.

If you would like to read more about how the English language evolved, and what makes English the international language of many areas, including commerce and technology, two excellent websites are HERE and HERE.