English is a West Germanic language that originated in early medieval England. It evolved from Old English, influenced by Norse, Latin, and French.

As for its role as the international language, English started becoming dominant after the British Empire (17th–20th centuries) spread it across the world. Later, after World War II, the United States' global influence (economically, politically, and culturally) helped English become the primary international language.

Before English, other international languages included:

1. Latin (Roman Empire, academia, and religion)

2. French (Diplomatic and aristocratic language in Europe, 17th–19th centuries)

English took over because of British colonization, global trade, science, media, and the internet. Today, it’s the most widely used lingua franca for communication worldwide.