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Theme : englishlanguage
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International Quidditch
Just a brief post to draw attention to this article in the Guardian.Apparently, the English language version of the last instalment of the Harry Potter saga sells more overseas than in the UK - people don't want to wait for the translation. A million copies were sold last month in Germany alone, and the Chinese love it, racking up a number of pre-orders 200% higher than the last one.Apart from wizard-fever, this shows how important popular culture is in relation to the globalisation of...
from : samjones
19th September 2007
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Language cop scours Beijing for bad English
Preparation in Beijing prior to the Olympics, and efforts to correct potential misunderstandings.
from : samjones
13th August 2007
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English and 'the radiator test'
This article in the Jamaica Gleaner makes some interesting points about the relationship between learning English, national identity and professional development.In relation to national identity, the author makes the point that authors like Chinua Achebe in Africa and Jamaican authors have been able to use the English language to tell African and Jamaican stories to wider audiences, giving them a glimpse of African heritage and life. The author also uses what he calls a 'radiator test'...
from : samjones
6th August 2007
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'Language games' by Bernard Crick | Prospect Magazine July 2006 issue 124
Whatever one means by Britishness, citizenship and integration, the language and some knowledge of the country are surely crucial.
"The New and the Old" stressed the importance of language not just for work but to carry a culture. We saw Britishness, even before the Windrush, as an overarching political-legal culture...but a state that already had within it a diversity of national cultures and religious identities.'
from : duncanoleary
26th July 2007
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Air China and the English Language
In the run up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Air China is stepping up its usage of the English Language.
According to the Guardian, China's civil aviation regulator issued a statement last month demanding Chinese pilots improve their English.
Many Chinese pilots are ex-military and speak little or even no English, though some airlines do now train their new pilots overseas to ensure they have the required language skills.
from : samjones
24th July 2007
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House of Commons Hansard Debates for 14 Mar 2007 (pt 0023)
Bill Rammell: 'Since 2001, we have tripled funding of ESOL services, spending more than £1 billion. It is crucial to make it clear that the intention behind our changes is not to cut funding.
We do, however, face a significant problem: demand is outstripping supply. In the past six years, ESOL student enrolments have risen from 158,000 to 538,000. Even with the growth in provision that we have delivered, the current situation is simply not sustainable.'
from : duncanoleary
17th July 2007
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Kiswahili as a medium of instruction in Tanzania
The Tanzanian Parliament has recently debated the idea of English or Kiswahili as the medium of instruction in the entire system of education. This article by Prof. Issa Mcholo Omarimakes the case for English.
from : samjones
16th May 2007
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Learning English at Six Months
Children in Shanghai are learning English as young as six months old: that's pretty early, but what are the implications on learning?
from : samjones
11th May 2007
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As English's dominance continues, linguists see few threats to its rule - The Boston Globe
As English's dominance continues, linguists see few threats to its rule - The Boston Globe
from : samjones
30th April 2007
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Bismarck, Geertz, Bradwell ... and Sam Jones (from Sex and the City)
As You Like It has been reviewed by Salon.com. ''Any essay on the globalization of the English language that includes references to Otto von Bismarck, open-source advocate Eric Raymond, U.K. reality TV star Shilpa Shetty, Clifford Geertz, "Sex and the City" and Chinua Achebe is an essay that one should pay attention to'.
from : samjones
29th March 2007
