Published On - January 10, 2017
Which Languages Are Closest to English?
Have you ever wondered which languages are most closely related to English? Well, wonder no more! Here are the 5 languages that linguists say are the most closely related to English. Some of them might surprise you… The Closest Language to English: Scots The closest language to English is Scot...
Published On - May 6, 2016
14 Obsolete English Words that Deserve Another Chance
Languages evolve, and English is no exception. Words come and go over time, and many eventually fall into obscurity. Sometimes, this sad fate befalls even perfectly good words…words that deserve another chance at life. Enrich your vocabulary with these 14 obsolete English words that deserve...
Published On - December 4, 2015
The Different Types of English
Who invented the English language? This is a question that is just as complicated and diverse as the language itself. In truth, English can be considered one of the few “melting pot” languages of the world. With far-ranging roots including (but not limited to) Germanic, Dutch, Latin, Old...
Published On - April 4, 2014
English is a Crazy Language
When you speak it every day, you tend to take it for granted, but the English language is actually kind of crazy. In fact, a video reminding us of all the ways in which its sanity could be called into question recently went viral on YouTube. Here it is, for your viewing pleasure: A few […]...
Published On - March 19, 2013
A Gaijin in Tokyo
In our last article, Alison noted how lazy we Brits are when it comes to getting a handle on the native language when preparing to travel abroad. From my own experience, I’ve seen just how extensive this can be and I’m guilty as charged. In both 2011 and 2012, I travelled to Tokyo for a [&he...
Published On - March 12, 2013
How British Travelers Deal with Language Barriers
It’s not exactly news that most travellers from the UK don’t bother to learn the local languages of the places they visit. A 2011 study by travel agency Sheila’s Wheels found that “51 percent of British travellers said they “rarely” took the time to learn how to say anyth...
Published On - December 6, 2012
Is English a Scandinavian Language?
A linguistics professor at the University of Oslo has been making headlines with a controversial claim. He believes that English is, in fact, a Scandinavian language, placing it in the North Germanic language family rather the West Germanic family, where it has traditionally been placed. The profess...
Published On - July 26, 2012
The Evolution of English
All languages change over time, and English is no exception. Now, a physicist at the University of Maribor in Slovenia has used a computer program to analyse the text of 5.2 million books published since 1520, to find out how language use has changed over the centuries. The results lead to a couple ...
Published On - May 17, 2012
Italian University To Go English-Only
The Politecnico di Milano, an Italian university that’s known throughout the world for its architectural and engineering programs, just made a surprising announcement: starting in 2014, most degree programs will be offered in English only. No Italian. Why would an Italian school move to an Eng...