AUSTRALIA: Aboriginal languages 'dying out'

Campaigners in Australia have warned that indigenous languages are declining at record levels.

They believe that the country's cultural heritage is at risk unless more is done to ensure the survival of these ancient tongues.

BBC website
Monday, 4 February 2008

Language development mirrors species evolution

The sudden emergence of American English is an example of how languages evolve rapidly when people want to carve out a new identity, and mirror the way that new species evolve, according to a new study.

The Telegraph
31 January 2008

Predictive text creating secret teen language

Forget a dictionary of slang, if you want to know what your kids are talking about then use your mobile phone. Children are inventing a whole new verbal language based entirely on the predictive text function they use to send messages on their mobiles. They are replacing words they mean with the first alternative that comes up when typing a message.

7, February 2008
The Telegraph

Facebook translated into Spanish

Facebook has introduced a Spanish version of its popular social networking website as part of efforts to attract new audiences.
It said this was the first of several languages besides English that the site plans to offer, with French and German versions expected soon

BBC website
Friday, 8 February 2008

Demand brings a new Chinese GCSE

A new GCSE in Chinese is to be available from next year, following growing demand from schools and business.

Teenagers will be able to study for the new qualification from September 2008, England's biggest exam board announced.

Thursday, 7 February 2008,
BBC website

'Routes into Languages' manager on BBC Radio 4

Heather McGuinness, Manager of the 'Routes into Languages' was among the guests on today's edition of the Learning Curve on BBC Radio 4.

Monday, 4 February 2008
Listen Again at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/learningcurve.shtml

Wikilengua aims to bolster correct use of Spanish

A new site called Wikilengua, a Wikipedia-style online tool, has gone live with the goal of helping the world's nearly 400 million Spanish speakers consult on the proper use of their language.

Friday, January 11, 2008 | 9:13 AM ET
CBC website