Category Archives: Attitudes to Language

Those pesky medalling journalists!

Posted on June 21, 2012 by Mr Heald

The Olympic games were always bound to be a source of some controversy, but it’s the use of the word ‘medal’ as a verb that is really getting people worked up, it seems. I’ve heard this usage on BBC Radio … Continue reading →

Posted in A2 Lang, Attitudes to Language | Leave a comment

Grammar’s escaped!

Posted on March 12, 2007 by Ant Heald

You thought it was safely confined to me, Radio4, and maybe some other things that no-one pays any attention to. But now it’s spilled over into the Sunday morning BBC 6Music show with top comedian Russell Howard and his mate … Continue reading →

Posted in Attitudes to Language, Grammar | 2 Comments

Save the OED!

Posted on March 6, 2007 by Ant Heald

Well, there’s little chance that the Oxford English Dictionary itself, possibly the world’s greatest work of reference, will go to the wall. But our access to it is under threat. I was told today that the school’s subscription will not … Continue reading →

Posted in Attitudes to Language, ENB2 - Accent & Dialect, ENB2 - Language & Gender, ENB2 - Language & Technology, ENB2 - Language and Occupation, ENB2 - Languge and Social Context, ENB6 - Language Change, Grammar, Lexis | Leave a comment

Have M&S got fewer standards than they used to?

Posted on February 19, 2007 by Ant Heald

I went to Chester at the weekend and saw this remarkable sight: What’s going on there then? What’s the situation in Doncaster M&S? What about the supermarkets/shops that you use or work in? There’s plenty of online discussions of this … Continue reading →

Posted in Attitudes to Language, ENB2 - Language and Occupation, ENB6 - Language Change, Grammar | 4 Comments

Yeah but, no but

Posted on December 20, 2006 by Ant Heald

Research has confirmed that you’re all a bunch of inarticulate slobs. It must be true, it says it in all the papers and everyfink. See here or here or here or, ohhhww, wha’evahh. I picked up on this story from … Continue reading →

Posted in Attitudes to Language, ENB1 & NA3M - Speech | 6 Comments

More on the txt msg lang debate

Posted on November 1, 2006 by Ant Heald

As I mentioned to the Y12 Language group on Tuesday, I’m finding that features of language influenced by electronic communication are increasingly appearing in students’ work. Clearly I’m not the only one, if the furore in the media today is … Continue reading →

Posted in Attitudes to Language, ENB2 - Language & Technology | Leave a comment