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Blog Excerpts
Take the "Evolving English" Quiz
Mon Nov 08 00:00:00 EST 2010
The British Library is hosting a fascinating exhibition, "Evolving English: One Language, Many Voices," exploring the history of the English language in all its diversity. Think you know your Anglo-linguistics? Try the "Evolving English" online quiz here.
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Word Routes
The Story Behind Obama's "Shellacking"
Fri Nov 05 00:00:00 EDT 2010
Four years ago, when then-President George W. Bush surveyed the losses suffered by congressional Republicans in the midterm elections, he memorably called it a "thumping." On Wednesday, President Obama used a similarly colorful term to describe his party's electoral woes. "I’m not recommending for every future President that they take a shellacking like I did last night," he said at his press conference. That comment led many to wonder, how did shellacking come to describe a thorough defeat?
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Calendar
November-December WordMasters Challenge
Sat Nov 20 00:00:00 EST 2010 - Sat Dec 11 00:00:00 EST 2010
It's time for the first WordMasters Challenge of the school year! Click here for details.
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Teachers at Work
Encouraging Students to be Language Investigators
Thu Nov 04 00:00:00 EDT 2010
We recently spoke to British researcher Dan Clayton about the new educational project, "Teaching English Grammar in Schools." The project seeks to enliven the teaching of English by using real examples pulled from a corpus of texts. In part two of our interview, we asked Dan how this corpus-based approach allows both teachers and students to investigate the intricacies of the English language.
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Evasive Maneuvers
Possibilians Disinvest in Conversation Water, Dad-Swamp It!
Wed Nov 03 00:00:00 EDT 2010
I looooooove staying at swanky hotels. I seldom have the cash to do so on my own, but one of my non-euphemism-related employers often puts me up at various Hyatts and Hiltons. Man, I love escaping my semi-squalid lifestyle while enjoying some HD TV, about 6 or 9 pillows, and the absolute joy of having a maid tuck in my blankie. Still, despite my good fortune, I've never been lucky enough to stay at a hotel with its own death ray.
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Blog Excerpts
Write a Book, or Read Ten?
Wed Nov 03 00:00:00 EDT 2010
When it comes to NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), Laura Miller of Salon is a naysayer, calling it "a waste of time and energy." She's more impressed by those who commit to read 10 books in 10 different categories. Read Miller's blog post here.
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Lesson Plans
Sorting out Homophones in Roald Dahl's "Matilda"
Tue Nov 02 00:00:00 EDT 2010
How can students identify the correct homophones to fit the context of quotations taken from Matilda?
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Blog Excerpts
NaNoWriMo Has Begun!
Tue Nov 02 00:00:00 EDT 2010
It's time once again for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). As the website explains, it's "for everyone who has thought fleetingly about writing a novel but has been scared away by the time and effort involved." Visit the NaNoWriMo website to learn more.
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Behind the Dictionary
Election Day Special: Are Senators "Congressmen"?
Tue Nov 02 00:00:00 EDT 2010
In learning about the Constitution in my American history class in junior high, we learned about the Framers, checks and balances, three branches of government, and all the rest. We learned about the bicameral legislature, i.e., the two chambers of the United States Congress: the House of Representatives and the Senate. But after learning all that, I wondered: Where did congressmen fit into the picture with all these representatives and senators? I'd seen campaign signs referring to "Congressman So-and-so"; I'd heard encouragements to "write your congressman!"; who were these congressmen?
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Language Lounge
The Corrections (Industry)
Mon Nov 01 00:00:00 EDT 2010
A sighting of a "corrections institution" has us thinking about the gamut of terms used for the punishment end of the criminal justice system.
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