Language and words in the news – 27th February, 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

Louche and louching
Louche came into English in 1819, but it didn’t mean what it means now.

Global English

How do you pronounce “schedule”?
The pronunciation of the word “schedule” is something that provokes quite virulent debate, with some members of each camp feeling that only theirs is “correct”.

Improve your English

One syllable adjectives with comparative ‘more’ instead of -er
The following monosyllabic adjectives virtually always take the ‘more’ and ‘most’ form instead of the endings -er and -est (note the all-important qualifier ‘virtually’).

Which or That? Who Cares?
If you’re a speaker/writer of American English (AmE), these two relative pronouns may well strike terror into your heart. Which one to use? How to keep them straight in your head?

Language teaching and resources

The Notebook
It’s a while since we’ve linked to one of Kieran Donaghy’s lovely film-based lessons, so here’s a pre-intermediate and intermediate level one about doing household chores (well, it’s not really about that).

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, dictionaries, words and language

Translation matters: The unsung heroes of world literature
A great piece on translation from the great Anthea Bell.

Internet slang meets American sign language
The Deaf community works as a network, collectively brainstorming new sign language terms over the web, until dominant signs emerge.

Animation

Noam Chomsky on Language Acquisition
BBC Radio 4 has some great animations on the History of Ideas. Here’s one narrated by Gillian Anderson on Chomsky’s theory of language acquisition. (Note: other theories of language acquisition are available).