City drops apostrophes from signs

A council has been criticised after announcing apostrophes should not feature on its road signs.

Birmingham City Council said it would cost too much to change signs referring to areas such as Kings Norton, Druids Heath and St Pauls Square.

Thursday, 29 January 2009
BBC website

USA: US city rejects English-only law

Voters in the US city of Nashville have defeated a proposal to ban the use of all languages apart from English in local government business.

Friday, 23 January 2009
BBC News

Many 'change accent to get ahead'

More than one-third of employees have changed their accent in order to impress their boss and improve their career prospects, research suggests.

Among the 1,000 people surveyed, 38% of those with a regional accent said they had had difficulties being understood, the Bury Technologies survey found.

BBC website
Thursday 22 January 2009

European business schools offering more courses in English

This week's THE reports on the increasing number of business schools offering teaching in English.
Times Higher Education
22-28 January 2009
pp. 32-37

Chinese studies launched at Edge Hill

Today's edition of Times Higher Education reports that Edge Hill University has lunched two courses in Chinese Studies.

Times Higher Education, 22-28 January, p. 12

Chinese Studies at Edge Hill

Football transfers face test penalty

British clubs are prepared to pay vast sums for star players from abroad, but new visa rules that require them to pass a language assessment could jeopardise future deals, reports Richard Foster

The Guardian
Friday 16 January 2009

BBC Persian TV is launched

BBC website
Wednesday 14 January 2009

Medium Education in Welsh language retards pupils, says English expert

Agence Bretagne Presse

Medium Education in Welsh language retards pupils, says English expert

Welsh people have been shocked by an English < expert > who has claimed that Welsh language education causes retardation in children. His "expert" advice was heard in a family court where there are strict rules of secrecy (1) and involved custody of an eleven-year-old boy. The consequences for the mother are devastating.

The advice of the "expert" has been attacked by many people, including Wales's First Minister Rhodri Morgan. But since the Welsh court system has not been devolved, the Welsh authorities are unable to challenge the opinions of the "expert".

Plaid Cymru Assembly Member, Nerys Evans, who has been taking up the case on behalf of the boy's mother, says that all the research of which she is aware shows bilingualism is a positive influence on a child's understanding.

Full story:
Agence Bretagne Presse