Latest news
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Irish language to get EU status
The Irish language (Gaeilge) is set to get official status in the EU on 1 January, bringing the total to 23.
(BBC News, December 27th, 2006)
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Hope of escape lost in translation
Providing interpreters instead of encouraging immigrants to speak English keeps them in their ghettos.
(The Times, December 17th, 2006)
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It's English as a foreign language
As you know, it is impossible to speak French because everything over there has a sex. Tables. Ships. Birthday cakes. Throat lozenges even. Everything is either a boy or a girl and they snigger when you get it wrong.
(The Times, December 17th, 2006)
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'Let pupils learn Mandarin and Arabic'
Children should be allowed to study Mandarin, Russian, Arabic and Urdu at school to spark fresh interest in foreign languages, the Government was told yesterday.
(The Telegraph, December 15th, 2006)
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Teach 'useful Mandarin', schools told
State schools should be encouraged to teach economically useful languages such as Mandarin, a government report will recommend today.
(The Times, December 14th, 2006)
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Teach languages, primaries urged
Languages should become a standard part of the English primary school curriculum, a report says.
(BBC News, December 14th, 2006)
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Mixed report for bilingual school
The first bilingual state school in England has enriched its curriculum but seen some underachievement, inspectors say.
(BBC News, December 14th, 2006)
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Irish language future is raised
The government is consulting people about whether Irish should be recognised as an official language.
(BBC News, December 13th, 2006)
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Languages made degree requirement
A key university makes a language GCSE an entry requirement to encourage schools to teach the subject.
(BBC News, December 13th, 2006)
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Cost in translation
Mark Easton reports on how the cost of translating for UK residents who do not speak English has soared.
(BBC News, December 12th, 2006)
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Who cut off the Queen's vowels?
Diana, Princess of Wales was cruelly thwarted in her attempt to half-inch the crown from 'er Indoors, but she certainly left a mark on all areas of monarchic life.
(The Telegraph, December 5th, 2006)
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UK under threat as English teaching goes global
An increase in non-native speakers teaching English around the world has contributed to a decline in foreign students seeking to learn the language in the UK.
(The Guardian, December 5th, 2006)
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Languages 'should be compulsory'
Dozens of top universities urge the government to reverse a decision allowing pupils to drop languages.
(BBC News, December 4th, 2006)
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How Queen's English has grown more like ours
As the common tongue continues its inexorable slide towards a new dark age of glottal stops and "innits", news comes that even the Queen is drifting slowly down river towards Estuary English.
(The Telegraph, December 4th, 2006)
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State sector fails on languages
Private school pupils are propping up university language departments because state schools are failing to produce sixth-formers able to compete for places, an analysis of admission figures has revealed.
(The Telegraph, December 2nd, 2006)
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