However, here are some strong contenders and why:
* Sanskrit: This ancient language of India is considered the mother of many languages in South and Southeast Asia, including Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, and Nepali. It has a rich literary tradition, including sacred texts like the Vedas and the Bhagavad Gita, which have profoundly influenced Hindu philosophy and culture.
* Latin: The language of the Roman Empire, Latin spread across Europe and heavily influenced many European languages, including English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Romanian. Latin is also the foundation of many scientific and legal terms.
* Arabic: The language of the Quran, Arabic is a cornerstone of Islamic culture and has had a profound influence on art, literature, science, and philosophy across the Islamic world. Arabic has also spread geographically through trade, conquest, and cultural exchange.
* English: Currently the world's most spoken language, English has become a lingua franca in many parts of the world due to colonialism, globalization, and its use in science, technology, and business. It has also influenced the vocabularies of many other languages.
* Chinese: With a long history and a vast number of speakers, Chinese has influenced East Asian culture and literature for centuries. Its writing system has also impacted writing systems in neighboring countries.
Ultimately, the "biggest impact" is subjective. Each of these languages has played a crucial role in shaping human history in different ways, and it's impossible to truly compare them.
Instead of a single "biggest" impact, perhaps a more accurate way to think about it is to consider how languages have interacted and influenced each other throughout history to create the diverse linguistic landscape we have today.