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.
Language change and slang
Amid the Amidsts
Old words are fancier words, to some people, and first-year students want to use fancy words. But students have always wanted to impress their teachers with fancy words, and I haven’t seen this proliferation of –st forms until this year.
Global English
Animal Crossing in the UK – Toucans and Puffins and Penguins (oh my!)
We thought we were making a silly joke, but the toucan crossing is actually called this because it’s wide enough for cyclists to use as well as pedestrians (the two can cross!).
Books, dictionaries, words and language
Why We (Mostly) Stopped Messing With Shakespeare’s Language
Last week, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival announced that it had commissioned thirty-six playwrights to translate all of Shakespeare’s plays into modern English. The backlash began immediately…
London’s Underground languages
This fascinating piece looks at the main languages spoken in the areas served by London Underground’s Victoria line, which runs across the city from south to north. Hat-tip to Hugh Dellar and Andrew Walkley.
National Poetry Day
Yesterday was National Poetry Day, but every day is good for breaking with the tyranny of prose by thinking of a poem and sharing it imaginative ways.
Illustration
Tales of Mystery and Imagination
These gorgeously creepy illustrations by Harry Clarke are reproduced on the British Library’s Facebook page, which is well worth a look.
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