Sunday, September 20, 2009

2009 resources now available

Finally...they're now available from here.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Apologies for delay

Sorry that the powerpoints from June and July aren't available yet. I've run into a bit of a technical hitch as my web software is knackered. I'm hoping it will all be up and ready by the end of the week.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Resources from presentations

The powerpoints from June 17th & 18th and July 1st & 2nd will be available on this link soon.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

How to find us

We are here

Running orders

Wednesday 17th June

10.15 Registration & welcome

10.30 Angela Goddard

11.35 Jonathon Green

12.40 Lunch

1.30 – 3.45 (approx) David Crystal

Thursday 18th June

10.15 Registration & welcome

10.30 – 11.30 Workshop 1 (Julie Blake/Jonnie Robinson)

11.40 – 12.40 Workshop 2 (Jonnie Robinson/Julie Blake)

12.40 – 1.45 Lunch

1.45 – 2.45 Presentation 1 – Emma Jackson (texting and literacy)

2.45 – 3.45 Presentation 2 – Mike Thelwall (social networking and language)

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

The second session

Jonathon Green is one of the world's experts in Anglophone slang. His last book, the Chambers Slang Dictionary, was published in 2008. His major work, the multi-volume dicionary of slang 'on historical principles' is scheduled to appear in 2010. Entitled Green's Dictionary of Slang (On Historical Principles) it offers 125,000 slang words and phrases from across the English-speaking world. It draws on a database of around 575,000 citations, and covers the development of slang since the early 16th century. An online version will follow.

My talk is essentially about the making of that book, but in its topics, on the making of any slang dictionary. I deal with the role of a slang lexicographer, how I see myself and what it is that I do, and with some of the aspects of slang lexicography - etymologies, dating, making a head word list, defining. I aim to show that slang lexicography is like all lexicography but nonetheless challenges the dictionary-maker with certain problems with which the OED, for instance, does not have to concern itself. Above all, I try to show why, despite the general disdain and distrust that slang attracts, it is a legitimate part of the English language, as important as any other.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

What's happening...the first session.

Here's a sneak preview of Angela Goddard's talk for the opening session on Wednesday 17th June.

I'll update this blog over the next few days with more info about each speaker, and we'll be emailing all of you have booked places with directions and running orders (which will also appear online here next week).

Metaphors Я Us: How everyday metaphors construct the world we live in.

My talk will focus on how we create worlds from words.

Metaphor is often seen as an elaboration of language use associated with literary texts. I will be arguing against this view and suggesting that metaphor is a very basic form of daily communication that creates a sense of reality for its users.

My research – on computer-mediated communication – has shown that metaphor is a powerful strategy for creating shared worlds. However, that same strategy can act to inhibit alternative interpretations of ‘reality’ and so produce discourses that impact strongly on our personal and social lives.

While the topic of metaphor will have obvious relevance to teachers of English Language, those also teaching English Literature can benefit from re-thinking how other subject areas might view one of English Lit’s basic ‘toolkit’ items. Analysing metaphor can also form an important part of any subject area that concerns itself with different discourses – for example, the Social Sciences, Business Management, etc. Students who can apply their English Language studies to their work in other subject areas gain tremendously in their understanding and confidence as learners.

Professor Angela Goddard works at York St John University as a Head of Subject for Languages and Linguistics. She has worked in every phase of education, teaching and researching aspects of language in use. She has been involved in developing English Language A Level curricula since the beginning of the first course in 1983; she is now Chair of Examiners for AQA’s two English Language A Level Specifications. Angela was awarded a Higher Education Agency National Teaching Fellowship in 2008. She has written many books and articles on language, including writing and editing the Routledge Intertext series, which consist of a core book for language study plus 22 satellite titles on different language topics.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Bookings open until Monday June 8th

Bookings for the 17th and 18th will remain open until Monday June 8th, or until all available places are gone. There has been a lot of interest in both days and because of the workshop-based nature of the sessions on the 18th, we're getting very close to capacity.

Slight change to 18th line-up

Bev Plester is unable to do the presentation on Texting and Young People's Literacy, but has arranged for Emma Jackson (who is also involved in the Coventry University research project) to take her place.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Bookings open for both 17th and 18th

We've got a final line-up now for the Thursday which is as follows:

Thursday June 18th (workshops and research presentations)
  • Julie Blake (workshop) a computer-powered investigation of language and gender
  • Jonnie Robinson (workshop) on the British Library's digital resources and English language teaching
  • Bev Plester (research presentation) on texting and young people's literacy
  • Mike Thelwall (research presentation) on gender, swearing and MySpace

It'll cost £25 per teacher per day and we have secured further LSIS Beacon College funding to help make this happen again. Lunch will be included and we're expecting each day to begin at about 10.30 am and finish at 3.45 - 4.00pm.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Bookings open for Weds 17th

If you want to reserve places for the Wednesday teacher conference, please email me at the address given out on the English Language List. If you're not on the list, post a comment here and I'll get back to you. Tickets are £25 per teacher.

I'm hoping to finalise the Thursday 18th line-up in the next week or two.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Teacher workshops line-up announced!

The first day of the June 17th teacher workshops has now been finalised and the line-up will feature:

Angela Goddard on Language & Technology
Jonathon Green on Slang Lexicography
David Crystal on Txtng and Grammar Rules

Friday, January 9, 2009