Language Lovers

A beginner’s guide to the language of AI

Technology has a way of completely revolutionising the way we live. Cars replaced the good old horse and carriage, washing machines and hoovers saved people hours of housework, and the mobile phone became… well, much more than just a phone. The latest technological advancement dominating the conversation at work, at… Read More

For the bants: 12 British slang words

Alright? Don’t worry, you’re not actually expected to respond to that question. Just like any other language, English has many quirks and a whole range of idioms that can cause confusion when you’re learning the language. But when it comes to British English even native speakers can find themselves scratching… Read More

National Picnic Week

Who doesn’t love a picnic? Eating is one of life’s great pleasures, second only to being outdoors and in contact with Gaia in all her soothing variety. Add to those two the social element involved and bingo! you’ve got a well-nigh perfect event. Is thinking of… Read More

Dinna fash: 11 essential Scots and Gaelic words for Outlander fans

Dinna fash, sassenach. With those three little words, a thousand Google searches were launched. The sizzling romance between Jamie and Claire from Diana Gabaldon’s bestselling Outlander series have had people glued to their screens for almost 10 years. The hit show has helped fuel an increase in people wanting to… Read More

7 differences between British and American English words for clothing

Although the British and the Americans understand each other the vast majority of the time, there are still many important differences between UK and US English, which can lead to confusion or humorous misunderstandings. One area where there are different words in American and British English is clothing. Here are… Read More

15 words & phrases to get the Eurovision party started

Are you ready for Eurovision? An annual celebration of music, culture and questionable fashion choices, the Eurovision Song Contest is a live broadcast international song competition in which members of the European Broadcasting Union – plus Australia! –  compete each year. Since its establishment in 1956,… Read More

The Coronation: God Save King Charles!

As mentioned in my coronation post earlier this week, the coronation ceremony is hallowed by time. Edgar was the earliest English king to be crowned, at Bath Abbey in 973; Robert the Bruce was hastily crowned King of Scots at Scone (rhymes with ‘spoon’) in 1306… Read More

The Coronation: God Save the King!

On 6 May 2023 Charles Philip Arthur George Mountbatten-Windsor will be crowned King Charles III in a coronation ceremony dating back, if not to time immemorial, at least ten centuries. Just to be absolutely clear, Charles is of course already King, for the Crown knows no… Read More

Veg Power

‘Eat largely of spinach.’ recommended John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, in his best-selling 1747 Primitive Physick: An Easy and Natural Method of Curing Most Diseases.1 *** ‘What a pleasure to write about my favourite vegetable!’ I thought when asked to write this piece. I don’t recall when I first… Read More