Historically dominant languages:
* Latin: The foundation of Romance languages (Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, etc.). Its influence is enormous, encompassing parts of Europe, the Americas, and Africa.
* Greek: Influenced many languages, especially in the Mediterranean region. Many scientific and philosophical terms are derived from Greek.
* Sanskrit: The base of many South Asian languages, and contributed to the development of several languages in Southeast Asia.
* Arabic: Influenced many languages in the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Southeast Asia.
Modern global influence:
* English: The most spoken language globally, with enormous influence due to its role in trade, science, technology, and popular culture.
* French: Important in many parts of the world, especially in Africa and Canada.
* Spanish: Second most spoken language in the Americas, with significant influence in parts of Europe and Asia.
* Chinese (Mandarin): The most spoken language by native speakers, with increasing influence in global trade and technology.
Beyond languages:
* Trade routes: Ancient trade routes often facilitated the spread of languages and cultural exchange, such as the Silk Road.
* Colonization: European colonization dramatically impacted the language landscape of many parts of the world.
* Migration: People migrating to new territories often bring their languages and cultures with them, leading to language interaction and influence.
Important points to consider:
* Influence doesn't necessarily mean direct borrowing. It can be more subtle, like the influence of grammatical structures or vocabulary development.
* Influence can be reciprocal. While English has significantly influenced many languages, it has also borrowed words and phrases from other languages.
* Language influence is a dynamic process, and it continues to evolve.
It's crucial to recognize that linguistic influence is a complex and interconnected phenomenon. There's no single answer to the question of which countries have most influenced spoken languages. It's a multifaceted story with contributions from various sources throughout history.