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. Feel free to contact us if you would like to submit a link for us to include, or just add a comment to the post, with the link(s) you’d like to share.
Global English
Why national language lacks functional development
One belief that has taken roots is that Urdu simply does not have the vocabulary to explain things and concepts at a level of density that English allows. The decline of Urdu is taken as a fact.
Language change and slang
Mergers
Shifty little things, vowels change from place to place and time to time, and in some dialects, historically distinct vowels merge permanently. The “pin-pen” merger is maybe the most famous one.
Improve your English
From the style guide of The Guardian newspaper
Fun to browse, and full of wise advice. For example: one in six, one in 10 etc should be treated as plural. There are good grammatical and logical reasons for this.
Five ways to get your editor to kill you
If you believe that a writer’s job is to write and an editor’s job is to edit, please find a new vocation. If you don’t value your work enough to give it a second look, no one else will either.
Language teaching and resources
Wisdom
A language lesson based around a film about what wisdom means.
Books, words, languages and science
Our brains often fail to notice key words that can change the whole meaning of a sentence
After a plane crash, where should the survivors be buried? If you are considering where the most appropriate burial place should be, you are not alone.
Dear English
A love letter to the English language from lexicographer and blogger Kory Stamper.
Cartoon
Army on standby
Defence chiefs have placed servicemen and women – some recently back from Afghanistan – on 48 hours notice to work as guards at London 2012.
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