BBC HomeExplore the BBC
This page was last updated in March 2006We've left it here for reference.More information

7 February 2011
Accessibility help
Text only
Voices

BBC Homepage

Voices
Voices Recordings
Your Voice
Where I Live
News
Schools
Webguide
Contributors
Contact Us

Like this page?
Send it to a friend!
 
Language News
Latest news

March 2006

Ulster-Scots launch schools site
A new website to help children learn the Ulster-Scots language is being launched in Belfast.
(BBC News, March 31st, 2006)
 
Computers to learn Cardiff accent
Researchers appeal for volunteers with genuine Cardiff accents to help with voice recognition systems.
(BBC News, March 30th, 2006)
 
Row over Gaelic use in Caithness
Opposition in Caithness to Gaelic language road signs is criticised by Highland Council.
(BBC News, March 29th, 2006)
 
The rise of the interrogatory statement
My sister lives in Los Angeles, and has picked up this irritating verbal tic, "uptalk", which means that she uses an interrogative tone even when making statements such as: "I never want to talk to you again (?)".
(The Times, March 28th, 2006)
 
Online tool tackles IT in Welsh
A new online dictionary launched by the Welsh Language Board will help learners find technical translation.
(BBC News, March 23rd, 2006)
 
Norfolk dialect taught in schools
An appreciation of the Norfolk dialect is to be taught in 11 schools by a language preservation group.
(BBC News, March 23rd, 2006)
 
Grammar is a question of manners
A repulsive piece of grammar is like a mangled frog left by the cat in the middle of the kitchen lino. It is not necessarily ill-intentioned, but the repellent effect increases according to the frequency of the offence.
(Daily Telegraph, March 22nd 2006)
 
New Gaelic guide targets business
A new booklet and CD aimed at encouraging and helping Isle of Man firms to use the Manx Gaelic language is available.
(BBC News, March 20th, 2006)
 
Breathing life into a dead language
Bright children in poor areas are learning Latin in school thanks to a DVD-based course.
(The Times, March 20th, 2006)
 
It's not the sights, it's the sounds
The dialects of New York City and Pittsburgh are miles apart, and the highways that connect them are loaded with detours in pronunciation and vocabulary.
(The New York Times, March 17th, 2006)
 
UK 'missing out on foreign study'
British students are missing out studying part of their university course in another European country, the EC says.
(BBC News, March 17th, 2006)
 
Doctors training in sign language
Junior doctors in NI are being trained in sign language to communicate effectively with the deaf.
(BBC News, March 13th, 2006)
 
Signs putting Cornish on the map
The campaign to keep the Cornish language alive is taking to the county's streets.
(BBC News, March 10th, 2006)
 
Schools language decline concerns
Projects are being introduced in schools to combat a decline in children learning foreign languages.
(BBC News, March 10th, 2006)
 
Changes are needed over languages
In this reader's article, Colin McDonald says a new mindset is required to learn other languages.
(BBC News, March 8th, 2006)
 
The wrist-slapping correctitude over punctuation
Good punctuation is mourned as a lost art. But the best writing is full of mistakes - and that's why it's exciting.
(The Guardian, March 6th, 2006)
 
Cash to rescue lost local words
A project to prevent the local dialect in the North East (UK) from dying out is awarded a lottery grant.
(BBC News, March 5th, 2006)
 
School signing to welcome pupil
Staff and pupils at a Devon school are learning sign language to communicate with one of the school's newest pupils.
(BBC News, March 3rd, 2006)
 
Overseas students prove better than Britons at English
British students have a poorer grasp of spelling, grammar and the English language than their peers from overseas, research by Imperial College, London, suggests.
(The Times, March 2nd, 2006)
 
Irish language skills lure Amazon
Amazon is moving its European customer service centre to the Irish Republic because of local language talents.
(BBC News, March 2nd, 2006)
 
Parents 'threaten' Welsh language
Children's success at learning Welsh hinges on the language used in the home, a study in Bangor finds.
(BBC News, March 1st, 2006)
 
Fussball and beer drinking
England football fans heading to Germany for the World Cup can get free language classes. Past participle, anyone?
(BBC News, March 1st, 2006)
 
news archive

August 2005
Icelanders speak up for languages
East End Cockney accent 'fading'
Muslims 'want surmons in English'
More...

September 2005
Manx Gaelic revival 'impressive'
UK 'loves languages after all'
Tingo, nakkele and other wonders
More...

January 2006
Web to preserve Romani heritage
Mind your PMQs? It's eff this and eff that
The C word
More...

August 2006
Armageddon isn't upon us
Tongue-tied
Why are fewer students choosing to study foreign languages at GCSE?
More...

January 2005
February 2005
March 2005
April 2005
May 2005
June 2005
July 2005
August 2005
September 2005
October 2005
November 2005
December 2005
January 2006
February 2006
March 2006
April 2006
May 2006
June 2006
July 2006
August 2006
September 2006
October 2006
November 2006
December 2006



In Your Area
What do you think about your local accent?
Talk about Voices in your area

Did You Know?
95% of people in Northern Ireland think of themselves as having a moderately strong accent, compared to only 63% of people in the east of England.
Voices poll results





About the BBC | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy