Language Wars (newyorker.com)

A contemporary argument for prescriptivism. 

Language Wars
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2012/05/language-wars-descriptivists.html

The myth of English as a global language

A while since updating. Here's a good read for A2 Language Development...

The myth of English as a global language
http://www.the-tls.co.uk/tls/public/article1044656.ece

Sarcasm

Students often want to write about sarcasm in exams. But it's hard to put your finger on what makes something sarcastic, linguistically speaking. Here's an attempt.

Note: suprasegmental features refer to intonation, which we've breezed over since it's hard to show in an examination.

http://www.linguistics.ucsb.edu/faculty/cumming/ling50/sarcasm.htm

Language and Facebook

After the world's most unsurprising headline, there's some interesting research about language trends in Facebook correlated to social identity. 

http://mashable.com/2012/01/06/facebook-emotions/

Jean Berko's Wug Test and more

This page from the CHILDES database has a section with the wug test paper and the set of pics, which we used in class. Also here are the audio samples of language development we listened to, and some other interesting resources for studying langauge development.

http://childes.psy.cmu.edu/topics/

Publication of Dr Johnson's Dictionary today

15th April 1755, folks. 

Publication of Dr Johnson's Dictionary
http://www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/publication-dr-johnsons-dictionary

Phonological Processes

This speech therapy site has a nice list and explanation of some of the ways in which words can be altered by young children. A follow-up to today's work on Stilwell Peccei's account of child phonology.

Phonological Processes

Slinging Slang from the Flappers to Rappers

A fun quiz that aims to predict your age based on the slang you use. Slang isn't solely for young people - it's changed over the years, some of it has stuck, and some of it has travelled from region to region. You might be surpried how British slang charts on this American-based test! For Language Change and Language Variation, as well as Presenting Self and the creation of voice in monologues.

Slinging Slang from the Flappers to Rappers - alphaDictionary * Slang Generation Test

The confusing language around programming languages.

What's basically an article offering an erratum for an embarrassing subediting cockup is deftly turned into a comment piece on contemporary language development. Now that's classy. 

The confusing language around programming languages
http://www.guardian.co.uk/info/developer-blog/2012/mar/16/language-of-programming-languages

Jamaican Creole Texts

Peter Patrick's page of Jamaican Creole examples, with links to other parts of his site, including a useful 'Creoles for Beginners' page. Handy stuff.

http://privatewww.essex.ac.uk/~patrickp/JCtexts.html

Tok Pisin Radio and news

The radio Australia website in Tok Pisin - with written news articles and a live stream of Tok Pisin for your creole/pidgin listening pleasure.

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/tokpisin?tab=stream_RAS4

Reith Lectures: Is our language in decay?

Jean Aitchison's article about language change.  Good stuff. TL;DR: What do you mean Too Long Didn't Read? You're an A Level student! Get stuck in there. ;)

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/reith-lectures-is-our-language-in-decay-1317695.html