What Countries Have English As An Official Language?

What Countries Have English as an Official Language?

More than 50 (fifty) countries around the world use English as their official language. But you may be surprised to know that there are a few major English-speaking countries, such as Australia, the United States, and England, are not on the list.
So why do some countries use English as their official language? And what exactly is an official language? Keep reading to learn more and discover some amazing information about English as an official language.
 

Interpretation and Translation

A delegate can speak any official world language. The discourse is simultaneously interpreted in other official languages ​​of the world. Sometimes, a representative may choose to make a statement using a non-official language. In such cases, the delegation must provide an explanation or written text of the statement in the official language. Most world documents are issued in six official languages, translation from original document required.

Countries Where English Is An Official Language

• Anguilla
• Antigua 
• Australia 
• America 
• Barbuda
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Bahrain 
• Belize
• Bermuda
• Botswana
• The British Virgin Islands
• Cameroon
• Canada
• Cayman Islands
• Combine 
• Dominica
• Fiji
• The Gambia
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Ghana 
• Ireland
• Italy 
• Kenya 
• Kuala 
• Malawi
• Malta
• Nigeria
• Namibia
• New zeeland
• Papua New Guinea
• St. Kitts and Nevis
• St. Lucia
• Seychelles
• Sierra Leone
• Singapore
• South Africa
• Scotland 
• Tanzania
• Trinidad and Tobago
• The Turks and Caicos Islands
• Uganda
• United Kingdom 
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

Why English Is Not the Official Language of the United States

Even when the United States was made up of different colonies, multiple languages ​​were commonly spoken. When most of the colonies were under British rule, immigrants from all over Europe chose the "New World" as their abode. For this reason, during the first (1st) Continental Congress, it was decided that no official language would be chosen. Many today think that declaring an official national language may violate the First Amendment, but it has not been tested in court. Thirty-one (31) states have chosen to make it the official state language. English may not be the official language of the United States, but it is the most widely spoken language in the country, followed by Spanish.

5 Interesting Facts About Countries Including English as Official Language

We've listed some countries that use English as an official language, but let's dive deeper to learn some amazing facts.

1. 1. English is the most popular official language in the world.

• More than 50 (fifty) countries around the world use English as their official language. After English, the other most common official languages ​​are French, Arabic and Spanish. However, these are still not as popular as English. These 3 (three) languages ​​are official in less than 30 countries.

1. 2. Most countries with English as an official language were British territories.

• When the British Empire began colonizing and expanding its power in the 17th century, it brought English to the world. English was used in the colonies and the natives were often forced to learn the language. Many Caribbean countries, such as the Bahamas and Barbados, were former British colonies that still use English as their official language.

1. 3. Some US States have their own official language.

• Although there is no official language in the United States, there are more than 30 states. Most of these states use English language, but a few have additional official languages. Local languages ​​such as Alaska, Inupiaq and Siberian Upic are also included, finish in Hawaii, official in both English and Hawaiian.

1. 4. Official languages can be endoglossic or exoglossic

• Endoglossic languages ​​are official languages ​​that are native to the country and exoglossic are official or widely used languages ​​that are not indigenous to the country. In Nigeria, for example, English is the official language of Exoglossic. However, endoglossic languages ​​such as Hausa and Yoruba are still widely spoken in Nigeria.

1. 5. A country in South America uses English as its official language.

• Guyana was a British colony and gained independence in 1966, still uses English as an official language. It is the only country in South America that uses English as its official language.

For many reasons, such as colonialism and the need for a common business language, English has become the real language for most of the world. However, about 50 countries actually list English as their official language. To learn about other interesting cultures and languages, browse the ALTA Beyond Words blog.

The Language of Travelers

When traveling the world, it should be noted that there are few places in the world where a little English will not help you. While it is always good to learn some of the languages ​​of the country you are going to, it is great to get back to a shared common language. It allows speakers to feel that they are a part of the world community.