language change and slang
-
Posted by Stan Carey on September 20, 2011
When people lament the state of the English language, they often criticise new vocabulary, such as the slang, buzzwords and jargon that arise from young people, advertising, and technology. But new vocabulary marks linguistic change only in a relatively superficial way. Significant changes in language happen more slowly. In a short video for Global about [...]
Read the full article
-
Posted by Laine Redpath Cole on September 19, 2011
We’re into our second week of online English and I thought it might be useful to put a few of the more interesting comments, articles, thoughts on online English in a post for your perusal. 2006: Of course, online English is closely tied into the subject of Global English, and David Crystal is the man [...]
Read the full article -
Posted by Kati Sule on September 14, 2011
This video is a good introduction to the topic of online english, our main focus this month here on the blog. Professor David Crystal answers the question: How is the internet changing language today? The video (4:07) was originally made for Global, Macmillan’s six-level course for adults, written by Lindsay Clandfield. Y
Read the full article -
Posted by Stan Carey on September 07, 2011
If you’ve never come across the complaints about hopefully, you might be surprised by the fuss it attracts. It’s one of those familiar but divisive words with a regular slot in style guides and usage dictionaries. The AP Stylebook (2007 edition) says: “It means in a hopeful manner. Do not use it to mean it [...]
Read the full article -
Posted by Aneta Naumoska on September 01, 2011
Gender English month continues with a guest post by Aneta Naumoska, a Lector of Contemporary English Language at the “Blaze Koneski” Faculty of Philology in Skopje, Macedonia. Aneta’s first book, Gender Marking in the English Language, was published in December 2010. Her particular interests lie in the field of Sociolinguistics. She is also an avid [...]
Read the full article -
Posted by Stan Carey on August 30, 2011
The Virtual Linguist wrote an interesting post recently about Pygmalion, focusing on the controversial language in George Bernard Shaw’s much-loved play. The expressions that provoked such consternation almost a century ago seem unremarkable to most modern readers and theatre-goers, yet one of them remains oddly controversial, as we will see. First there is the relatively [...]
Read the full article -
Posted by Tony Voss on August 29, 2011
Stan Carey’s post – Problems with pronouns – reminded us language is sometimes a blunt instrument, as in the use of they as an ungendered personal pronoun. We find it hard to think of a person without thinking of the group to which they/she/he belongs. The possessive of the neuter pronoun, its, seems to have [...]
Read the full article -
Posted by Stan Carey on August 22, 2011
In a recent post about the role of dictionaries in matters of language and gender, Michael Rundell wrote that they “shouldn’t take sides in any area of language use” but that “in some cases this is unavoidable”. Dictionaries record how language is used, so they can’t simply ignore sexist and discriminatory usages – or new [...]
Read the full article -
Posted by Caroline Short on August 18, 2011
This week’s ‘language in new media’ post looks at the origins of the English phrase reading the riot act. Now understood as a scolding or telling off, usually administered by parents or teachers to unruly children, being read the riot act used to have far more serious connotations. Listen to excerpts and view contemporary artists’ [...]
Read the full article -
Posted by Laine Redpath Cole on August 17, 2011
bibliotherapy (noun) providing therapy by recommending particular books for people to read John Cunningham visit[ed] Batley Public Library, where ‘bibliotherapy‘ is helping to tackle health problems. (Submitted from United Kingdom) I can strongly recommend bibliotherapy as an effective form of therapy. In particular I recommend Bill Bryson if you like to travel and/or are feeling [...]
Read the full article
