This post contains a selection of links related to language and words in the news. These can be items from the latest news, blog posts or interesting websites related to global English, language change, education in general, and language learning and teaching in particular.
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Language change and slang
Who is right? Dictionary and academic in Twitter row over grammar rule
A Twitter debate has ignited over the opinion-dividing use of they as a singular pronoun.
‘It’s just a joke’: the subtle effects of offensive language
Despite changing attitudes towards women and minority groups, sexist and offensive jokes remain common.
Improve your English
Grammar matters
The UK’s Open University has introduced a free course which introduces users to the functional approach to grammar of Michael Halliday and others, known as Systemic Functional Linguistics.
Words, books and language
George R. R. Martin’s invented language in A Game of Thrones
Martin uses roots and sounds that would be familiar to English speakers in order to give a frisson of recognition to many of his invented words.
Podcast
Unforced Errors, Dog Whistles and the Latest Campaign Buzz Words
Ben Zimmer talks about political language and how certain words are often used (and misused) by candidates, just in time for the conventions. (31 minutes)
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