EngLangBlog
@englangblog.bsky.social
English Language & Linguistics for A-Level students and teachers.
One of the Lexis podcast team https://tinyurl.com/yckh3vy5
EngLangBlog: https://englishlangsfx.blogspot.com/
English & Media Centre: https://www.englishandmedia.co.uk/
He/him
One of the Lexis podcast team https://tinyurl.com/yckh3vy5
EngLangBlog: https://englishlangsfx.blogspot.com/
English & Media Centre: https://www.englishandmedia.co.uk/
He/him
Helpful umbrella terms or too broad to mean anything? 'Neurodivergent' and 'neurodiverse' as labels.
theconversation.com/what-autisti...
theconversation.com/what-autisti...
What autistic people – and those with ADHD and dyslexia – really think about the word ‘neurodiversity’
A new UK survey of more than 900 neurodivergent adults has revealed strong feelings about the language of neurodiversity.
theconversation.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Helpful umbrella terms or too broad to mean anything? 'Neurodivergent' and 'neurodiverse' as labels.
theconversation.com/what-autisti...
theconversation.com/what-autisti...
Reposted by EngLangBlog
There is a recording of the late Tony Harrison (at the start of this recent edition of The Verb) reading 'Them and Uz' and flipping back and forth between the different accents - which would make a great discussion starter: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
[8 days left to listen]
[8 days left to listen]
BBC Radio 4 - The Verb, Poetry by Tony Harrison, US Poet Laureate Arthur Sze, Sinéad Morrissey, David Morley, and Daniel Sluman
Ian McMillan's guests are Sinéad Morrissey, David Morley, Arthur Sze and Daniel Sluman.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 12:13 PM
There is a recording of the late Tony Harrison (at the start of this recent edition of The Verb) reading 'Them and Uz' and flipping back and forth between the different accents - which would make a great discussion starter: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
[8 days left to listen]
[8 days left to listen]
Reposted by EngLangBlog
Since January 2022, we (me, 93% Club & SS) have been working a project that tackles accent bias in Higher Education, focusing on the 'elite' institution where we're based. Today, we're launching the project website which brings together all our work:
accentbias.ed.ac.uk
accentbias.ed.ac.uk
November 10, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Since January 2022, we (me, 93% Club & SS) have been working a project that tackles accent bias in Higher Education, focusing on the 'elite' institution where we're based. Today, we're launching the project website which brings together all our work:
accentbias.ed.ac.uk
accentbias.ed.ac.uk
One for the linguists.
My dad was a working class lad done good, he spoke in a middle-class accent but when telling us off as kids he'd turn Cockney, like his dad. To my horror I've realised I now do the exact same. Normally I sound like Tom Hollander but when telling my kids off I go full Winstone
November 9, 2025 at 7:34 PM
One for the linguists.
This is a really good read: pretty complimentary about the actual paper and what it sets out to look at but quite damning about the media coverage of it and the deficit models being propagated in that coverage.
debuk.wordpress.com/2025/11/06/e...
debuk.wordpress.com/2025/11/06/e...
Enough already!!! Punctuation, silly women and soundbite science
One of last week’s media talking points was a study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology (JESP), which attracted attention mainly because of its claim that women use exclamati…
debuk.wordpress.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:12 AM
This is a really good read: pretty complimentary about the actual paper and what it sets out to look at but quite damning about the media coverage of it and the deficit models being propagated in that coverage.
debuk.wordpress.com/2025/11/06/e...
debuk.wordpress.com/2025/11/06/e...
Reposted by EngLangBlog
I’ll be talking about this choice on Times Radio at 07.45 London time
We've got one of the big hitters in the dictionary world going for 'vibe coding' as its #WOTY2025.
BBC News - 'Vibe coding' named word of the year by Collins Dictionary
www.bbc.com/news/article...
BBC News - 'Vibe coding' named word of the year by Collins Dictionary
www.bbc.com/news/article...
'Vibe coding' named word of the year by Collins Dictionary
The art of making an app by describing it to artificial intelligence (AI) tops 10 new terms on the shortlist.
www.bbc.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:46 AM
I’ll be talking about this choice on Times Radio at 07.45 London time
We've got one of the big hitters in the dictionary world going for 'vibe coding' as its #WOTY2025.
BBC News - 'Vibe coding' named word of the year by Collins Dictionary
www.bbc.com/news/article...
BBC News - 'Vibe coding' named word of the year by Collins Dictionary
www.bbc.com/news/article...
'Vibe coding' named word of the year by Collins Dictionary
The art of making an app by describing it to artificial intelligence (AI) tops 10 new terms on the shortlist.
www.bbc.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:08 AM
We've got one of the big hitters in the dictionary world going for 'vibe coding' as its #WOTY2025.
BBC News - 'Vibe coding' named word of the year by Collins Dictionary
www.bbc.com/news/article...
BBC News - 'Vibe coding' named word of the year by Collins Dictionary
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by EngLangBlog
Don’t worry. I spoke to BBC Newsround and said everything was fine 😁
November 5, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Don’t worry. I spoke to BBC Newsround and said everything was fine 😁
The full review is here. Much more promising on GCSE English Language reform than the summaries led me to believe. Perhaps. There is hope...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6908f7...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6908f7...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
November 5, 2025 at 7:46 AM
The full review is here. Much more promising on GCSE English Language reform than the summaries led me to believe. Perhaps. There is hope...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6908f7...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6908f7...
There was a link in that Telegraph op-ed to this absolute abomination of a piece by Simon 'Strictly English' Heffer* 😬
November 5, 2025 at 7:20 AM
There was a link in that Telegraph op-ed to this absolute abomination of a piece by Simon 'Strictly English' Heffer* 😬
This doom-laden op-ed (by a teacher writing for the Telegraph) links the supposed Americanisation of young people's English to screen time, cultural imperialism (although the Telegraph would never use such a wooooke term), the nanny state and unboxing videos.
archive.today/cZ4kF
archive.today/cZ4kF
November 5, 2025 at 6:20 AM
This doom-laden op-ed (by a teacher writing for the Telegraph) links the supposed Americanisation of young people's English to screen time, cultural imperialism (although the Telegraph would never use such a wooooke term), the nanny state and unboxing videos.
archive.today/cZ4kF
archive.today/cZ4kF
Some messaging etiquette.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
LOL: is this the ultimate texting faux pas (and what should you use instead)?
From abbreviations to happy poos, gen Z has strong opinions on appropriate texting behaviour. But can anyone keep up with the ever-changing rules?
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 6:06 AM
Some messaging etiquette.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
So, for those who are interested, Schools Week are highlighting the key subject recommendations in the curriculum review.
Curriculum review: The subject-specific policy proposals share.google/4NrIxx1NMJd7...
Curriculum review: The subject-specific policy proposals share.google/4NrIxx1NMJd7...
Curriculum review: The subject-specific policy proposals
Mandatory citizenship, RE in the national curriculum and triple science entitlement
share.google
November 5, 2025 at 5:25 AM
So, for those who are interested, Schools Week are highlighting the key subject recommendations in the curriculum review.
Curriculum review: The subject-specific policy proposals share.google/4NrIxx1NMJd7...
Curriculum review: The subject-specific policy proposals share.google/4NrIxx1NMJd7...
This is a more serious word of the year nomination than '6-7'. But also, here we are... A word that should have been consigned to the dustbin of history in 1945 is depressingly relevant again.
My 2025 Word of the Year is FASCISM. It speaks to the gravity—and reality—of the moment. There's data to back it up. No more important day to announce it than Election Day
As I write about word origins, I give it extensive treatment as my Etymology of the Year here:
mashedradish.com/2025/11/04/f...
As I write about word origins, I give it extensive treatment as my Etymology of the Year here:
mashedradish.com/2025/11/04/f...
The 2025 Etymology of the Year
“Fascism” is a challenging word for a challenging moment, and its origins may bear lessons for us.
mashedradish.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:24 PM
This is a more serious word of the year nomination than '6-7'. But also, here we are... A word that should have been consigned to the dustbin of history in 1945 is depressingly relevant again.
Reposted by EngLangBlog
My quotes from yesterday's Times stories are being recycled a lot.
The stories often make the same frustrating error as in this headline: the survey did not show which "AmEisms" UK kids use most. It showed which ones UK teachers mentioned most.
www.cbsnews.com/news/america...
The stories often make the same frustrating error as in this headline: the survey did not show which "AmEisms" UK kids use most. It showed which ones UK teachers mentioned most.
www.cbsnews.com/news/america...
Survey reveals the Americanisms that are slipping most into British children's speech
Of 10,000 U.K. teachers surveyed, 50% reported hearing their students say "trash" or "garbage" instead of the more typical British terms.
www.cbsnews.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:51 AM
My quotes from yesterday's Times stories are being recycled a lot.
The stories often make the same frustrating error as in this headline: the survey did not show which "AmEisms" UK kids use most. It showed which ones UK teachers mentioned most.
www.cbsnews.com/news/america...
The stories often make the same frustrating error as in this headline: the survey did not show which "AmEisms" UK kids use most. It showed which ones UK teachers mentioned most.
www.cbsnews.com/news/america...
Reposted by EngLangBlog
Absolutely delighted to be back at the @engmediacentre.bsky.social for a fun-filled day of Literary Linguistics! Today we’re joined by teachers across the country for our ‘Starting to Teach A level LangLit’ course. Such fun!
November 4, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Absolutely delighted to be back at the @engmediacentre.bsky.social for a fun-filled day of Literary Linguistics! Today we’re joined by teachers across the country for our ‘Starting to Teach A level LangLit’ course. Such fun!
This Independent op-ed speed runs the main points from yesterday's Times and @teachertapp.bsky.social story on Americanisms but adds a few nice details and ends with quite a positive view.
www.independent.co.uk/life-style/h...
www.independent.co.uk/life-style/h...
‘Mom, can we take the elevator?’ Why I’m fine with my daughter speaking Americanese
A new study has shown Americanisms are creeping into classrooms throughout the UK, with words like ‘diaper’, ‘apartment’, ‘candy’ and ‘garbage’ becoming the new norm. No surprise when our children are...
www.independent.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 6:13 AM
This Independent op-ed speed runs the main points from yesterday's Times and @teachertapp.bsky.social story on Americanisms but adds a few nice details and ends with quite a positive view.
www.independent.co.uk/life-style/h...
www.independent.co.uk/life-style/h...
More 🇺🇸 English here 👇🏼
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Trash talk: why are UK kids using so many Americanisms?
British teachers report hearing more and more schoolchildren using US terms such as ‘candy’ and ‘diaper’ – and even speaking in an American accent. What’s going on?
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:43 PM
More 🇺🇸 English here 👇🏼
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
The 6-7 discourse continues 😬
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Are your kids obsessed with ‘6-7’? Here’s my plan to break the spell | Dave Schilling
Rules seem unlikely to help – kids will just rebel. Instead, try saying it all the time yourself
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 4:46 PM
The 6-7 discourse continues 😬
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by EngLangBlog
One long car journey I was so cross with my kids I stopped speaking to them. They kept trying to make me talk. Eventually the seven year old decided to keep deliberately using 'should of' because they know I'm a pedant and it was killing me not correcting their grammar. I'm proud
November 3, 2025 at 8:20 AM
One long car journey I was so cross with my kids I stopped speaking to them. They kept trying to make me talk. Eventually the seven year old decided to keep deliberately using 'should of' because they know I'm a pedant and it was killing me not correcting their grammar. I'm proud
Hmm... beyond the headline, this is a bit more complex than kids sounding more American.
archive.ph/2025.11.02-2...
archive.ph/2025.11.02-2...
November 3, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Hmm... beyond the headline, this is a bit more complex than kids sounding more American.
archive.ph/2025.11.02-2...
archive.ph/2025.11.02-2...
Ok, take a deep breath. I know it's hard to believe but the Telegraph is running *that* story again. You know, the one railing against inclusive language where they feature quotes from Toby Young and Alka Sehgal Cuthbert and where the term 'woke nonsense' get used.
November 2, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Ok, take a deep breath. I know it's hard to believe but the Telegraph is running *that* story again. You know, the one railing against inclusive language where they feature quotes from Toby Young and Alka Sehgal Cuthbert and where the term 'woke nonsense' get used.
Reposted by EngLangBlog
"Research has revealed that women use three times as many exclamation marks in emails as men. I know, right?!!!!"
Lucy Mangan in great form, sadly just a day too late to include in my latest thing for @natefeed.bsky.social 's 'Teaching English's magazine.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Lucy Mangan in great form, sadly just a day too late to include in my latest thing for @natefeed.bsky.social 's 'Teaching English's magazine.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Digested week: Sometimes it feels the clocks do nothing else but go back | Lucy Mangan
Women need exclamation marks for good reason!! Plus, Andrew is losing everything he holds dear, including his house full of memories
www.theguardian.com
November 1, 2025 at 12:18 PM
"Research has revealed that women use three times as many exclamation marks in emails as men. I know, right?!!!!"
Lucy Mangan in great form, sadly just a day too late to include in my latest thing for @natefeed.bsky.social 's 'Teaching English's magazine.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Lucy Mangan in great form, sadly just a day too late to include in my latest thing for @natefeed.bsky.social 's 'Teaching English's magazine.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Some tech and language dimensions here: www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Ducking annoying: why has iPhone’s autocorrect function gone haywire?
The internet has been rumbling about autocorrect for years – and now AI is changing how the technology works
www.theguardian.com
November 1, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Some tech and language dimensions here: www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Reposted by EngLangBlog
"A thoughtful, fresh re-examination of language in use in Britain and Ireland today."
Language in Britain and Ireland, 3rd Edition edited by Susan Fox
#Sociolinguistics #EnglishLanguage #Linguistics
cup.org/3CrCp7O
Language in Britain and Ireland, 3rd Edition edited by Susan Fox
#Sociolinguistics #EnglishLanguage #Linguistics
cup.org/3CrCp7O
Language in Britain and Ireland
Cambridge Core - Sociolinguistics - Language in Britain and Ireland
cup.org
January 27, 2025 at 4:25 PM
"A thoughtful, fresh re-examination of language in use in Britain and Ireland today."
Language in Britain and Ireland, 3rd Edition edited by Susan Fox
#Sociolinguistics #EnglishLanguage #Linguistics
cup.org/3CrCp7O
Language in Britain and Ireland, 3rd Edition edited by Susan Fox
#Sociolinguistics #EnglishLanguage #Linguistics
cup.org/3CrCp7O