Language News

News from the world of language...

Language new	English language schools fear new visa rules Plans to crack down on illegal entry will damage colleges for overseas students, principals say
Language new	Puzzle of division between the Scottish and English language It is a debate that has divided scholars since ... well, possibly the 7th century, when two languages with a common Germanic root — Old English — took their separate courses. One became standard English, the other developed its own vocabulary, and became Scots. Language? Dialect? Unintelligible slang? The answer is as much political as linguistic. But no one can deny the difference.
By Antonio Graceffo Language new	Empty Compliments and the Language Learner Meeting a new Thai person I simply said “Sawadis krap.” Without a second’s hesitation, he said, in English “You Speak Thai very well.” Was I supposed to feel encouraged? Should my head have swollen to monumental proportions because of this meaningful recognition of my linguistic prowess? I simply answered with a question. “How would you know?”
Language new	Research to find effects on brain of bilingualism A project at Bangor University aims to explore the benefit of being bilingual. Researchers will be recruiting 700 people aged between two and 80 to take part in the £750,000 programme. Prof Virginia Gathercole said the obvious benefits included being able to converse and to participate in two cultures. But she said there was also evidence of non-language benefits, such as the ability to protect the brain from ageing.
Heather Thorne Language new	Assessing the Value of Dying Languages Does it matter when languages die? This is a question bothering a number of people, from professional linguists to amateur language-lovers and minority activists. As globalization accelerates, so does the debate. While some wring their hands over the specter of a universal language like English, and organizations like UNESCO fight to preserve endangered tongues, others aren't so sure: isn't language evolution, like biological evolution, a natural phenomenon? Is better communication through common language necessarily a bad thing?
Language new	Workplace language lessons can aid more than communication Companies ranging from manufacturers to hotels to banks are learning they can't escape communication problems by ignoring them. Instead, a growing number of midstate companies have turned to community college programs to tear down language barriers so they can better engage the growing Spanish-speaking work force, as well as employees of eastern European or Asian origins.
Language new	Learning language the Karadi way BANGALORE: A new look and thought have been given to Indian education in recent times. And Karadi Tales is seeing major implications in pedagogy Twitter Facebook Share Email Print Save Comment here. On Friday, C P Viswanath, director of Karadi Tales, held a workshop in Bangalore with English-language teachers from various schools on `Science of Language Learning and Karadi Path'.
Language new	Education failure in any language IN the murky realm of indigenous policy-making, the darkest, most confused region is the labyrinth of initiatives for education in Aboriginal languages and competing proposals for the preservation of Australia's original words and ways of life.
Language new	Language teachers should spend time abroad: Minister Spending time in a foreign country is the best way for language teachers to properly learn languages, says education minister
TIM WIECLAWSKI Language new	Many chances to learn French It’s tough to get a leg up in this city without knowing both official languages. Most English-only speakers know how frustrating it is to see “bilingual” among the top requirements on a job posting.