English people

:This article is about the English as an ethnic group. For information about residents or nationals of England, see demographics of England.

Culture

Contribution to humanity

The English have played a significant role in the development of the arts and sciences. Prominent individuals have included the scientists and inventors Isaac Newton, Francis Crick, Abraham Darby, Michael Faraday, Charles Darwin, Frank Whittle and Tim Berners-Lee; the poet and playwright William Shakespeare, the novelist George Orwell,the composer Gustav Holst, and the explorer James Cook (for a complete list of famous English people see List of English people). English philosophers include Francis Bacon, John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Thomas Paine, Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill, Bertrand Russell and Roger Scruton.

Related Topics:
Arts - Sciences - Isaac Newton - Francis Crick - Abraham Darby - Michael Faraday - Charles Darwin - Frank Whittle - Tim Berners-Lee - William Shakespeare - George Orwell - Gustav Holst - James Cook - List of English people - Francis Bacon - John Locke - Thomas Hobbes - Thomas Paine - Jeremy Bentham - John Stuart Mill - Bertrand Russell - Roger Scruton

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The English language is now the world's unofficial lingua franca, and the jury system (used in a few not anglo-saxon countries in the world) is an English innovation. English common law is also the foundation of legal systems throughout the English speaking countries of the world, and the English Parliament had an influence on the operation of most democratic governments created after 1651 (partly through the incorporation of aspects of the English democratic system into the United States Constitution).

Related Topics:
English language - World - Lingua franca - Jury - English common law - English Parliament - 1651 - United States Constitution

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Language

All English people traditionally speak the English language, a member of the West Germanic language family. The only other language traditionally spoken is Cornish, a Celtic language originating in Cornwall spoken by about 3500 people. More recently immigrants from the British Commonwealth and elsewhere have brought other languages to England which are used privately as a home language. Such languages include Bengali, Hindi, Hebrew, Arabic and Chinese.

Related Topics:
English language - West Germanic - Cornish - Celtic language - Cornwall - British Commonwealth - England - Bengali - Hindi - Hebrew - Arabic - Chinese

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Religion

Ever since the break with the Roman Catholic Church in the sixteenth century, the English have been predominantly a Protestant people, a historical legacy that many scholars have argued resulted in the development of a relatively liberal political culture. Today, most English people practicing organized religion are affiliated to the Church of England or other Christian denominations such as Roman Catholicism and Methodism.

Related Topics:
Church of England - Christian - Roman Catholicism - Methodism

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Symbols

The English flag is a red cross on a white background, commonly called the Cross of St George adopted after the crusades. Saint George, famed as a dragon-slayer, is also the patron saint of England. The three golden lions or leopards on a red background was the banner of the kings of England derived from their status as Duke of Normandy and is now used to represent the English national football team and the English national cricket team. The Tudor rose and the English oak are also English symbols. "God Save The Queen" is widely regarded as England's unofficial national anthem; however, other songs are sometimes used, including "Land of hope and glory" (used as England's anthem in the Commonwealth Games), "Jerusalem" and "I Vow to Thee, My Country."

Related Topics:
Cross of St George - Crusades - Saint George - Duke of Normandy - English national football team - English national cricket team - Tudor rose - Oak - God Save The Queen - England - National anthem - Land of hope and glory - Commonwealth Games - Jerusalem - I Vow to Thee, My Country

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~