Leighton Andrews · reading tests · the Economist

But it’s too late, Leighton now, it’s too late…

I know I’m a week late on this but it’s taken me a week to be able to compose a temperate response to the news that Leighton Andrews, the Labour education minister for Wales, has suddenly decided that the pupils of Wales ‘deserve better’ and that what is needed now is to raise standards. After… Continue reading But it’s too late, Leighton now, it’s too late…

American Name Society

What’s in a name? More than you Finnk, apparently.

Apropos of yesterday’s posting, a friend tells me that The American Dialect Society has a sibling: the American Name Society, which every year chooses, you’ve guessed it, the name of the year. And this year’s? Don’t ask! *%?!”*&^£”**, otherwise known as Eyjafjallajökull, the Icelandic volcano. I can’t say it either! The American Name Society have… Continue reading What’s in a name? More than you Finnk, apparently.

'app' · 'Word of the year' · American Dialect Society · Chicago Post-Gazette

WOTY – ADS nom(inates) ‘app’

Remember how I posted a piece in January on the ‘word of the year’? Well, the American Dialect Society’s latest get-together in Pittburgh has chosen this year’s winner. Nominated by Bill Krezschmar, a University of Georgia professor, ‘app’ sneaked it over thirty-two other possible choices. And it took a hundred and fifty linguists two days… Continue reading WOTY – ADS nom(inates) ‘app’