Language and words in the news – 10th April, 2015

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

Women Are Far More Innovative Than Men In This Crucial Part Of Life
In modern societies, especially, the difference between how people talk from one decade to the next, is mainly due to what women start. Men just pick up the scraps.

Global English

Ned Kelly beard
The term Ned Kelly beard has gained currency in Australia in the last few years thanks to the adoption of the new fashion, but it is not a recent coinage.

Language teaching and resources

Baby goes to IATEFL 2015, part 1
Is it possible to attend talks with a baby? What about breastfeeding? Nappy changing? Since ELT is predominantly female, you’d hope all these things are going to be accommodated at its biggest event.

The Macmillan Party for IATEFL 2015
If you’re at IATEFL, don’t miss Macmillan’s Alice-in-Wonderland-themed party on Sunday 12th. Tickets are £5 and will be on sale from the Macmillan stand (12-15) on Saturday and Sunday – all proceeds go to some very worthwhile charities.

From a language point of view, what’s happening in Iraq, Syria, and environs has revived words that have not been common for many years. – See more at: http://www.cjr.org/language_corner/language_corner_063014.php?utm_content=buffer811d0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer#sthash.WQopCEDs.dpufFrom a language point of view, what’s happening in Iraq, Syria, and environs has revived words that have not been common for many years.From a language point of view, what’s happening in Iraq, Syria, and environs has revived words that have not been common for many years..

Books, science, words and language

English speakers, you stink at identifying smells
Speakers of the Aslian languages – found throughout the Malay Peninsula – are particularly good at expressing olfactory experiences.

The equivalent of “It’s all Greek to me” in 30 other languages
For Italians it’s Arabic, for Persians it’s Japanese: how different languages express the idea of incomprehensibility.

Should texts, e-mail, tweets and Facebook posts be the new fingerprints in court?
As more of our communication is written, the linguistic fingerprints we leave provide enticing clues for investigators, contributing to the small but influential field of forensic linguistics.

Fowler’s Modern English Usage New Edition
Fans of the classic guide to English usage will be delighted to know that a new edition has just been published. And what’s more its revisions have been informed by corpus analysis.