Category: Time and Space

Proper English? Attitudes Towards Language in Motion

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Language is never static; it evolves, adapts, and reflects the shifting values of the societies that use it. But that doesn’t stop people having strong opinions about ‘proper’ English, and how people should and shouldn’t speak (or write). In this sequence of lessons, you’ll learn about why some people want to uphold traditional rules, and others who prefer to embrace language as it’s used in real contexts. Unfortunately, the way you speak – your accent and choice of words – does have consequences, and we’ll see how easy it is to form perceptions and reinforce hierarchies and stereotypes. Later, we’ll look at a specific driver of language change – technology – and see how texting, social media, and digital communication are transforming the way young people express themselves.

Multitudes of English

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Today, English is the most widely learned language in the world, spoken in countless accents and styles. But English didn’t start that way. In this section, you’ll uncover the origins of English, tracing its roots from ancient Indo-European beginnings through invasions and borrowings that made it a ‘mongrel language’; examine why this language – out of thousands of contenders – became the world’s lingua franca, and what historical, cultural, and technological forces drove its rise. Finally, learn how divergence and local identity have created unique forms.

Myth Busting! Shock Factor and Provocation

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Mainstream media doesn’t just tell stories; it shapes what society considers acceptable and what remains hidden. Cultural taboos, those topics we rarely discuss openly, are often glossed over or disguised. In this section, you’ll see how some creators break through that silence using shock tactics and provocation. These strategies grab attention, challenge norms, and force us to confront uncomfortable truths. But provocation comes with risks: it can alienate, offend, or even reinforce stereotypes if used carelessly.

Origins and Evolution of the Forbidden

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Taboos are among the most powerful forces shaping human behaviour, yet they often operate silently, woven into the fabric of culture. The word itself comes from the Polynesian term tapu, meaning ‘sacred’ or ‘forbidden,’ reflecting its early roots in spirituality. From these beginnings, taboos spread across societies as mechanisms to protect what was considered holy, pure, or essential for survival…

Your Mother’s Ears: the Language of Taboo

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Language plays a fascinating role in negotiating taboo. Throughout history, certain words have carried immense power, capable of shocking, offending, or even endangering the speaker. Yet taboos are not fixed; they shift as societies evolve. Words once considered scandalous, like zounds or bloody, now sound quaint, while new linguistic flashpoints emerge around politics, identity, and morality. In this section, we’ll explore historical swear words, modern euphemisms, and campaigns that challenge comfort zones – all the while asking if language is supposed to protect us or reveal the truth?

Stereotyping Poverty

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Find out about poverty myths, learn the social, political and economic reasons that trap people in poverty, and discover both texts that perpetuate false poverty stories, and progressive texts that call for a change in the social narrative about this modern taboo.

Faraway Places: Travel Writing and Photography

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Travel is never neutral: it is driven by intention, and those intentions shape how journeys are recorded and represented. In this section, we’ll explore seven key purposes of travel: self-discovery, curiosity about the ‘Other,’ spiritual or religious pilgrimage, searching for roots, seeking knowledge, experiencing awe, and escapism. Each purpose influences not only the traveller’s perspective but also the tone, style, and content of their documentation.