Blog - History of Language

Out with the Old! Dusting Off Some Near-extinct English Words

30 March 2021

In a recent article, we took a look at some of the new words that have entered the lexicon in the past few years, and how language is constantly evolving. But, as in the animal kingdom, where exciting new species are discovered every year, it is inevitable that the opposite also occurs and there are some extinctions too. Certain words inevitably become casualties, cut from the dictionary as others crowd them out.

In this article, we reverse our approach and take a light-hearted look at some older words that have fallen out of favour. Join us as we shine a curious beam back in time to illuminate some fascinating words that are now all but obsolete.

In with the New! How and Why English Changes Over Time

16 March 2021

Languages are always changing, and English is no exception. With every year, new words are created and perhaps even added to the dictionary, giving them a sense of permanence in a changing world.
In this article, the first of two on how English has changed and continues to evolve, we explore how and why new words enter our lives. We also take a look at a few of the more unusual business terms that have appeared in recent times.

Language Links: Getting to Know Your Language Family Tree

16 June 2020

One of the most helpful ways to understand how languages are related to each other is to think of them as families, where closely linked ‘family members’ share more in common than distant relations – just like a family tree, where languages are grouped based on common linguistic ancestors.

In this article, we explore the way languages are linked through their family histories, with a special focus on the Indo-European family (home to English and many other European languages).

Legal English – The Use of Legal Doublets

22 January 2019

Legal doublets are everywhere, but in everyday English communication they are less frequent. Read more to discover where confusion can arise.

50+ Fascinating Language Facts You Didn’t Know

28 March 2018

Whether you are a teacher, translator, traveler, learner, or language enthusiast, you can agree that languages are a fascinating feature of our daily lives. Hearing a foreign tongue sparks a curiosity and interest that only comes with such subtle mystery. […]

Book Recommendation For English Punctuation: Eats Shoots & Leaves

09 March 2018

It is always better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. This week we shift our focus towards punctuation in British English with the help of Eats, Shoots & Leaves – an all-time English Bestseller that focuses on […]