Language news from across the online press (including BBC News) on language, accents and dialects between January 2005 and December 2006.

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	Cornish language promise broken Furious campaigners accuse ministers of reneging on a promise to promote Cornish language lessons in schools in an act of "blatant hypocrisy". (Western Morning News, 18th January 2005)

	Up for assault and pattery; court workers get accent guide Highland court transcribers have been issued with a Glasgow patter dictionary to help them understand witnesses and suspects. (Daily Record, 15th January 2005)

	Connery's accent is UK favourite Sean Connery's Scottish lilt is the nation's favourite accent, a survey of people for a BBC project suggests. (BBC News, 17th January 2005 )

	I say I say I say Yes, yes, yes - there are many ways to repeat yourself. Some are more meaningful than others, says a clever linguist in the Netherlands. (Guardian Unlimited, January 11th 2005)

	The next Welsh speaker to arrive at the rail call centre is a Geordie Welsh-speakers are needed to help out at a Welsh language call centre because inquiries are directed...to Newcastle. (IC Wales, 11th January 2005)

	Forked tongues The limits of my language are the limits of my world, according to Wittgenstein. Now Chile is taking the philosopher at his word, with a nationwide attempt to turn its 15 million citizens into English speakers. (Guardian Unlimited, 10th January 2005)

	Club's 'bona' way to communicate A secret gay slang coined in the 1950s when homosexuality was still illegal in the UK is enjoying a renaissance at a London nightclub. (BBC News, 8th January 2005)

	Fool the Grockles with that Somerset dialect! A new initiative has been launched to collect and preserve old Somerset dialect words before it's too late. (Western Daily Press, 6th January 2005)

	Welsh to appear in all passports The Welsh language will appear in all UK passports, the minister for the language Alun Pugh has announced. (BBC News, 26th January 2005)

	In defence of 'lost' languages Of the 6,000-odd languages in the world, one is said to disappear every fortnight. Should the English-speaking world care? (BBC News, 19th January 2005)

	What's in a word? Often, a whole culture What does it mean to speak another language? (International Herald Tribune, 6th January 2005)

	Giein translations for a doric play? Gie's a break My mither tongue! a bairn at schule In English, buiks I read. (The Press and Journal, 21st February 2005)

	Bay's dialects slowly dying* As city encroaches and watermen leave, linguists try to preserve vernacular. (Washington Post, 19th February 2005)

	Sideways helps spread wine jargon The word "pinot", used repeatedly in wine-tasting comedy Sideways, has topped a US poll of showbusiness words influencing the English language. (BBC News, 17th February 2005)

	RAF staff getting Arabic lessons Staff at a top RAF base are being offered courses in Arabic language and culture prior to Middle East postings. (BBC News, 17th February 2005)

	Wanted badly: Arabic speakers After September 11, training soars for diplomats and academics (International Herald Tribune, 15th February 2005)

	Gaelic first for new UK passports UK passports are to include details in Scottish Gaelic for the first time, it has been confirmed. (BBC News, 7th February 2005)

	Japan fears polite speech on wane Japanese people need help to brush up on their polite language, a government panel has proposed. (BBC News, 4th February 2005)

	Online directory recognises regional dialect Need a new pair of "gutties", a "stotty" shop or at the end of a night a "Ruby Murray"? (Newcastle Chronicle and Journal, 4th February 2005)

	Languages in schools 'in decline' French and German lessons are in "chronic decline", with too many students dropping languages altogether at age 16, a study warns. (BBC News, 28th February 2005)

	Academic swears by language shift A cultural commentator says the growing trend of swearing among celebrities is part of the evolution of language. (BBC News, 25th February 2005)

	Big fall in university languages There has been a "marked decline" in the number of students studying modern languages, according to a report for the government. (BBC News, 25th February 2005)

	Why do I sound Brummie? When ITV recreated planespotter Garry Fagan's stay in a Greek prison they made every effort to get the little things right. However, the accent was more Wolverhampton than Wigston. (Leicester Mercury, 23rd February 2005)

	Police launch interpretor service Devon and Cornwall Police are offering non-English speaking people a new telephone service. (BBC News, 22nd February 2005)

	Italy angry at EU language curbs Italy has complained at EU Commission plans to drop Italian translation from some of its press briefings. (BBC News, 21st February 2005)

	Gaelic bill secures MSPs' support MSPs have unanimously given their support to a bill which would give the Gaelic language official status. (BBC News, 2nd February 2005)