English may seem like a straightforward language with simple rules, but that simplicity is deceptive. English is actually a very complex language with many unique features and quirks.
Even though it’s not the largest or most widely spoken language in the world, it’s one of the most influential. It has official status in over 70 countries, which makes it the preferred second language for speakers of other languages worldwide. English has also played a significant role in ending colonialism and accelerating globalization by making it easier for people from different cultures to communicate effectively.
The history of English is filled with interesting facts and events that have helped shape the way we speak today. Let’s take a look at some of its characteristics, influences, and origins to discover more about this fascinating language!
There are so many interesting things to note about the English language. Firstly, some of its most distinctive features are also its oldest. For instance, the use of articles such as “a” and “an” (e.g., “a dog” and “an apple”) are common in many other Indo-European languages, including French and German, but are rare in other language families. Interestingly, the English language also has a relatively low number of irregular verbs; whereas in German there are over 700 irregular verbs, in English there are less than 80. As well as being remarkably consistent, English is also fairly easy to learn; it is estimated that it takes just 800 hours of study to master English to a near-fluent level, as opposed to 1,500 hours for Mandarin Chinese, 3,000 hours for Spanish, and 3,800 hours for Japanese.
Unlike other languages, English words can come from a variety of origins. This can make it difficult to learn the vocabulary and understand how it’s pronounced. For instance, the word “tough” can mean either “difficult” or “strong”. These kinds of words are known as “polysemous”, and they can make it difficult for speakers of other languages to understand the meanings of certain English words. A famous example of this is the word “cleave”, which has two distinct definitions: “to stick or remain attached” and “to split or sever.” This can be confusing at first glance, but it is actually very typical of the English language. Another interesting feature of English is that words can change their meanings over time. This can make it difficult to understand old texts and word origins. For example, “cruel” once meant “unusual”.
I was born in Yorkshire where our famous battle cry "OW MUCH??" often rattled the rafters of trade premises throughout the county. We English love a bargain. But is cheap car insurance really worth buying??
When you’re looking to get behind the wheel and drive, car insurance is essential. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to get affordable cover. But cheap car insurance isn’t always a good thing. When we think of cheap things, we tend to think they aren’t valuable or they don’t last long. And while that may not be true in all cases, when it comes to car insurance, it definitely holds true.
Cheap car insurance is almost never a good idea, because you can almost always find an insurer that offers better rates with more benefits and less red tape — even if it means spending a little bit more out-of-pocket each month on your policy.
You can often find low cost insurance with excellent benefits from a reputable insurer by getting quotes from a top cheap car insurance comparison site.
Here are five reasons why you shouldn’t settle for cheap car insurance.
It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of getting a bargain, but before you sign anything, make sure you check the reputation of your insurance company. What do other consumers have to say about the company? What’s their complaint history? You may decide to take a pass on the cheap company and pay a little bit more for a reputable insurer that has better online reviews and a lower history of complaints.
Even if you do decide to go with a less reputable company at least be sure to read and fully understand your policy. That way, you can be sure you and your family are adequately protected in the event of an accident or other loss.
When you choose to buy the cheapest insurance policy you can find, you are likely going to get what you paid for — and nothing more. Cheap car insurance policies are often underwritten with less thorough investigation and few or no discounts. The company may take a less thorough approach to investigating your driving history, as well. This could mean they’ll miss important details that may increase your risk and result in a higher premium when they finally check you out (which they will, sooner or later).
They may also be less likely to offer you a policy with the best benefits. So, if you choose to buy the cheapest policy available, chances are that you’ll get a policy that is lower in cover and thoroughness.
If you choose to spend a little bit more, you may get a policy that has better cover, thoroughness and discounts. You may also get a more helpful and experienced representative when you call to inquire about your policy and make changes to your cover.
There’s not much more that needs to be said on this point. When you choose to buy the cheapest car insurance policy available, you may be accepting cover that doesn’t adequately protect you if you are in an accident or if your car is stolen and not recovered. Even if you do manage to file a successful claim, you may find that the company has taken months to pay you, if they ever do. This can be a real problem for families who rely on their car for transportation and are left at the mercy of public transportation and taxis until their claim is resolved.
If you choose to spend a little bit more on your car insurance, you may be able to get more comprehensive cover and faster payment of your claim. Even if you have to wait for a better company to accept your application, it will be worth it when you get the help you need promptly after an accident or theft.
If you’ve chosen the cheapest car insurance policy you could find and file a claim, you may find that the company simply rejects it. This may be due to the fact that they aren’t thorough in their investigation or are using outdated methods of calculating premiums.
In some cases, the company may reject your claim because they aren’t particularly concerned about their customers and would rather just turn people away than pay them.
If you choose to spend a little more on your car insurance policy, you may find that your company is more thorough in their investigation of your driving history and more likely to accept your claim. You may also find that they are more concerned with keeping their customers happy and are more easily contacted and more responsive to your claims.
When you choose the cheapest car insurance you can find, it may be adequate for the legal minimum requirements for liability cover, but this cover may be insufficient for your needs. If you have a large family that relies on your car for transportation, for example, you may need additional cover for bodily injury cover. If you own a business that relies on your private car for transportation, you may also need to increase your liability cover.
If you choose to spend a little bit more on your car insurance policy, you may be able to get additional cover that better meets your needs. This will help to protect you and your family members and business associates in the event of an accident.
Overall, there are many reasons why you shouldn’t settle for cheap car insurance. In many cases, it may be better to spend a little bit more and get a more thorough policy with better cover and more attentive service.
When you compare policies, be sure to take into account the reputation of the company, the thoroughness of the investigation, the benefits offered and the price. For the best results, you should shop around, taking notes on each policy and keeping track of the prices so you can make an informed decision.
Germanic languages like German, Dutch, and Frisian are the closest relatives of English. The term “Germanic languages” refers to the group of Indo-European languages that branched off from the rest of the Indo-European languages around 2,500 years ago. In fact, Germanic languages make up around 25% of the English vocabulary, while other Indo-European languages account for only 10%. There are many theories about the reasons behind this strong Germanic influence on the English vocabulary. Another important Germanic contribution is the fact that there was no Latin influence on English in its early stages. English developed independently from French, which is derived from Latin. This means that English and French have very different grammatical structures.
Many languages were influenced by Latin, so it’s no surprise that English was also affected by it. In fact, 72% of English words are ultimately derived from Latin! The most obvious influence of Latin on the English language can be seen in the abundance of nouns ending in “-ion”, “-ment”, “-or”, and “-ance”. These are examples of Latin-derived suffixes that are used to form new words in English. All of these words share Latin origins (e.g., “just” and “justice”, “nation” and “national”, “ation”, “ment”, “or”, and “ance”). Latin also contributed some grammatical rules to the English language, such as the use of the subjunctive mood and the present participle.
Greek is the next largest contributor to the English language after Latin, although its influence is not as obvious. Around 9% of English words are derived from Greek, although the most common Greek words in the English language are scientific terms, such as “biology”, “physics”, “literature”, “mathematics”, and “zoology”. The most common Greek term in the English language is “philosophy”, which is also the largest group of words that come from Greek. Some of the grammatical rules that are a result of the influence of Greek on the English language include the use of the subjunctive mood (e.g., “If I were in your shoes, I would quit”), the formation of certain types of phrases and sentences (e.g., “It’s better to do it now”), and the use of the word “comprise” to mean “consist of”.
Overall, English is a fascinating language with a complex history that is full of influences from other languages. The unique characteristics of English make it somewhat difficult to learn and understand, but they also give the language its charm.