http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/-t1.htm Mon, 04 May 2009 20:59:55 GMT 10 http://hitskin.com/themes/11/27/78/i_logo.png http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/-t1.htm http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/response-to-english-language-handout-t185.htm kayzerthethird We have discussed (but not yet exhausted) the issues relating to the evolving English language and I now have a level of understanding which varies from one school of thought to another. The very clever and rather interesting, Jean Aitchison, (a British Linguist) examines words and dissects the very language which impacts on us all. She believes that, ‘Humans mop up words like sponges.’ And, ‘Word meanings are like stretchy pullovers, whose outline contour is visible, but whose detailed ... The issues relating to the English language and the teaching of it Mon, 04 May 2009 20:59:55 GMT http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/response-to-english-language-handout-t185.htm#338 http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/response-to-english-language-handout-t185.htm http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/the-developments-of-the-english-language-t184.htm angiehirst The Developments of the English Language Simply through reading these few extracts the evidence that English is an evolving becomes astonishingly clear. As Groves (1993) states ‘Words have always changed meaning’ and I agree that with her when she follows this comment with her desire to ‘keep an enormous variety going’ within the English language. The vast and often entertaining differences, between this country’s regional dialects is what gives the English Language its charm! ... The issues relating to the English language and the teaching of it Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:50:10 GMT http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/the-developments-of-the-english-language-t184.htm#337 http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/the-developments-of-the-english-language-t184.htm http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/what-does-it-tell-you-about-teaching-english-t183.htm pratiksha1 The issues relating to the English language and teaching of it. Overall, I found all three readings difficult to understand, especially Swift. I found Johnson’s preface the most insightful and I was surprised at his insight into the constantly evolving nature of the English language. Significantly, he states the invention of the dictionary will not ‘fix’ the English language nor stop it from evolving. I like the analogy to life itself and how it cannot remain immortal or stay ... The issues relating to the English language and the teaching of it Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:54:41 GMT http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/what-does-it-tell-you-about-teaching-english-t183.htm#336 http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/what-does-it-tell-you-about-teaching-english-t183.htm http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/comments-on-articles-t181.htm robloaring In Johnsons initial comments on the future of English; he alludes to the continued changing of the English language. Johnson considers that the only way for English to remain, for any length of time without major alteration, would be for the nation to be barely above the level of barbarians and secluded from strangers. In suggesting this he mentions that only those with the time to think and consider creating words, will effect language change “and every increase of knowledge, whether real ... The issues relating to the English language and the teaching of it Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:04:55 GMT http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/comments-on-articles-t181.htm#329 http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/comments-on-articles-t181.htm http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/reflection-on-articles-t182.htm Fi Robert Cawdry’s A Table Alphabetical and The Preface to Johnson’s Dictionary I liked the comparison of attitudes to language between Robert Cawdry’s Introduction and Johnson’s Preface. Cawdry (and “sonne’s”) A Table Alphabetical is written to preserve the English Language from three main threats that he identifies including: “over-sea language,” British persons journeying to France and returning with “French English” and similarly “English Italianated.” ... The issues relating to the English language and the teaching of it Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:42:32 GMT http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/reflection-on-articles-t182.htm#330 http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/reflection-on-articles-t182.htm http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/swift-johnson-and-orwell-t179.htm Immalee Swift’s arguments for trying to preserve language in one static state seem short-sighted and unsubstantiated. He seems to constantly make value judgements about language that are only based on current cultural ideas, namely that Latin is somehow superior to other languages, and therefore languages that have more Latin in them are more refined and better. His judgements about the quality of language are ostensibly about the sound of the language – ‘This perpetual Disposition to shorten our ... The issues relating to the English language and the teaching of it Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:30:14 GMT http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/swift-johnson-and-orwell-t179.htm#324 http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/swift-johnson-and-orwell-t179.htm http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/standards-debate-t176.htm Jon The striking thing for me about Johnson's Preface is the way he speaks directly to us - he imagines our response as future readers, and so had in mind that his work would be remembered - even if it would eventually be "derided" by us. I love the soberness in the way he makes this point - realising the limits of his work and that it will not "clear the world at once from folly, vanity and affectation". This soberness makes the groveling snobbishness of Jonathan Swift ... The issues relating to the English language and the teaching of it Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:15:32 GMT http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/standards-debate-t176.htm#320 http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/standards-debate-t176.htm http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/language-debate-t180.htm Joanna Moan The preservation of the English language and concern over declining abilities to use it effectively has worried academics for centuries. Jonathan Swift wrote to the Earl of Oxford in 1712 of his fears of the ‘corruption’ of the language. He felt that language need not be constantly changing if the nation is stable and without threat from invading countries. Swift criticised the imitation of the language of the courts in daily life and the introduction of new and ‘conceited’ words and ... The issues relating to the English language and the teaching of it Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:18:17 GMT http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/language-debate-t180.htm#326 http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/language-debate-t180.htm http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/ummmm-t174.htm Venetia ...have to admit I was really hoping someone else would have posted their view so that I could respond to them, but here goes: I always thought that Johnson was incredibly pompous (possibly due to his portrayal in Blackadder), so I was surprised to see his admission that despite his original mission being to catalogue the English language and in so doing 'put a stop to those alterations which time and chance have hitherto been suffered to make in it without opposition', it is unrealstic ... The issues relating to the English language and the teaching of it Fri, 10 Apr 2009 12:47:34 GMT http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/ummmm-t174.htm#318 http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/ummmm-t174.htm http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/my-response-to-the-english-articlesor-rant-t178.htm liane.klingbeil@bathspa.o The Preface to Johnson’s Dictionary, first published in 1755. I am in agreement that a dictionary has a valuable purpose of prolonging and maintaining the English language, it has strong preservative powers that as Johnson emphasizes ‘preserve words and phrases from mutability’. At the time at which this is written I think the preservation of the English language was much more of an issue, the language was fragile and Johnson contributed to the languages sustainability through the ... The issues relating to the English language and the teaching of it Sun, 26 Apr 2009 15:40:31 GMT http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/my-response-to-the-english-articlesor-rant-t178.htm#323 http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/my-response-to-the-english-articlesor-rant-t178.htm http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/reflection-on-articles-t177.htm Melissa Ricketts Preface to Johnson’s Dictionary Despite being somewhat outdated, I like Johnson’s rationale for his dictionary ‘to put a stop to those alterations which time and chance have hitherto been suffered to make in it without opposition’. Although the evolution of language is natural and necessary, I think that it is good that he wanted to preserve something that is essentially ‘English’ and wanted the language to survive. The idea that the legacy of people and places can be captured ... The issues relating to the English language and the teaching of it Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:05:38 GMT http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/reflection-on-articles-t177.htm#322 http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/reflection-on-articles-t177.htm http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/the-english-language-reflection-on-articles-t175.htm amandawoo “Politics and the English Language” George Orwell I enjoyed reading the article by George Orwell, as it made me think about things I take for granted, like the ineffective use of ‘dying’ and ‘incompatible’ metaphors and how people often write with a lack of precision using ‘phrases tacked together’ thereby manipulating the reader. I often notice this when proof reading my friends’ assignments or editing my own work, although I’m not consciously aware that I do this when ... The issues relating to the English language and the teaching of it Sat, 11 Apr 2009 10:44:54 GMT http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/the-english-language-reflection-on-articles-t175.htm#319 http://thehomeofsir.forumotion.net/the-issues-relating-to-the-english-language-and-the-teaching-of-it-f12/the-english-language-reflection-on-articles-t175.htm