It's time for our end-of-month roundup of language-related items in the news--from the linguistically profound to the lexically ridiculous.
- OUP's Phrase of the Year for 2011: "Squeezed Middle"
Every year, the dictionaries teams at Oxford University Press in the UK and the US put their heads together and come up with a Word (or Phrase) of the Year. This year, for the first time, both the UK and US teams have agreed on a global Word of the Year: squeezed middle. . . . Read more
(PR Newswire, "'Squeezed Middle' Is Named Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year 2011." TheStreet, November 22, 2011) - More Top Words of 2011
The Global Language Monitor has announced that "Occupy" is the Top Word, "Arab Spring" the Top Phrase and "Steve Jobs" the Top Name of 2011 in its annual global survey of the English language. Occupy was followed by deficit, fracking, drone, and non-veg. Kummerspeck, haboob, 3Q, Trustafarians, and (the other) 99 rounded out the Top 10. . . . Read more
("Top Words of 2011." The Global Language Monitor, November 11, 2011) - The Myth of Bilingualism in Canada
Since Ottawa passed the Official Languages Act in 1969, many Canadians have come to see bilingualism as our nation's defining trait. In fact, bilingualism in English Canada is only slightly higher than in the U.S., according to a book due out next month. . . . Read more
(Marian Scott, "Bilingual? Whom Are We Kidding?" Montreal Gazette, November 22, 2011) - Multiple Meanings
Over time words and expressions change in sound, in spelling and in use, sometimes at a snail's pace and sometimes almost overnight--as contributors to the Guardian's letters page have recently reminded us with reference to "cool." . . . Read more
(David Bellos, "The Cool Twists of Language." The Guardian [UK], November 21, 2011) - 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible
It has been intimately tied to the global spread and evolution of the English language--and to the rise and reach of British colonial power. . . . It is the King James Bible--arguably the most beautiful, powerful and influential text in the world. This week, Queen Elizabeth and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, held a special service in Westminster Abbey to mark the 400th anniversary of the publication of the most famous and enduring English-language translation of the Old and New Testaments. . . . Read more
(Paula Simons, "Poetry, Power and Passion of King James Bible Give Us All Voice." The Edmonton Journal, November 18, 2011) - British English in Malaysia
Although English has been viewed by certain quarters as hegemonic (a form of neo-colonisation) as it permeates life domains, influencing and probably displacing some aspects of cultures of non-English peoples worldwide, English is an irresistible world language because it acts as the most popular lingua franca for the great majority of the world communities. . . . [A]s a major part of British legacy, the British model of English has become an acceptable standard in Malaysia even though it is not spelt out clearly as to which model is being used in the Malaysian English language curriculum. . . . Read more
("English--No. 1 World Language." Borneo Post, November 13, 2011) - Audio Books vs. "Book-Books"
I've gotten used to the Look. When I talk with one friend or another about books we've both read, I often have to admit that I read the particular work in audio form. Although I'm not especially perceptive, it's pretty easy to translate my interlocutor's expression. It's a blend of surprise, condescension and an unmistakable dash of "that's cheating." . . . Read more
(John Schwartz, "Wired for Sound." The New York Times, November 25, 2011) - Preserving the Mescalero Apache Dialect
One word at a time, one student at a time, a group of Mescalero Apaches and their partner, a New Mexico State University anthropological linguist, are trying to stave off the demise of the tribe's ancient tongue, the wellspring of its culture. . . . [T]he Mescalero Apache dialect, like other indigenous languages, is being ground down by the dominant English-language culture that works its way into the homes of the 4,000 residents in the Sacramento Mountain community through television, radio and the Internet. . . . Read more
(Rene Romo, "Apaches Work to Save Language." Alamogordo Daily News, November 11, 1011) - Indianisms
It's time to once again poke a little fun at the English language or, more accurately, our use of it. . . . Sit comfortably and read on for a little frivolous pleasure. . . . Read more
(Karan Thapar, "Speaking English." Hindustan Times, November 12, 2011) - Twitter Languages
[W]hile English was far and away the most popular language used on Twitter, making up some 39 percent of all tweets, or 70 million per day, Arabic was the fastest-growing language overall, rising over two thousand percent in the past year, and is now the eighth most-used language on the network. . . . Read more
(Shea Bennett, "39% of All Tweets Are in English, but Arabic Now Fastest-Growing Language on Twitter." Mediabistro, November 28, 2011)
Back Issues of Language in the News:
Comments