BBC - Voices

23 September 2014
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Latest news

	Ulster-Scots launch schools site A new website to help children learn the Ulster-Scots language is being launched in Belfast. (BBC News, March 31st, 2006)

	Computers to learn Cardiff accent Researchers appeal for volunteers with genuine Cardiff accents to help with voice recognition systems. (BBC News, March 30th, 2006)

	Row over Gaelic use in Caithness Opposition in Caithness to Gaelic language road signs is criticised by Highland Council. (BBC News, March 29th, 2006)

	The rise of the interrogatory statement My sister lives in Los Angeles, and has picked up this irritating verbal tic, "uptalk", which means that she uses an interrogative tone even when making statements such as: "I never want to talk to you again (?)". (The Times, March 28th, 2006)

	Online tool tackles IT in Welsh A new online dictionary launched by the Welsh Language Board will help learners find technical translation. (BBC News, March 23rd, 2006)

	Norfolk dialect taught in schools An appreciation of the Norfolk dialect is to be taught in 11 schools by a language preservation group. (BBC News, March 23rd, 2006)

	Grammar is a question of manners A repulsive piece of grammar is like a mangled frog left by the cat in the middle of the kitchen lino. It is not necessarily ill-intentioned, but the repellent effect increases according to the frequency of the offence. (Daily Telegraph, March 22nd 2006)

	New Gaelic guide targets business A new booklet and CD aimed at encouraging and helping Isle of Man firms to use the Manx Gaelic language is available. (BBC News, March 20th, 2006)

	Breathing life into a dead language Bright children in poor areas are learning Latin in school thanks to a DVD-based course. (The Times, March 20th, 2006)

	It's not the sights, it's the sounds The dialects of New York City and Pittsburgh are miles apart, and the highways that connect them are loaded with detours in pronunciation and vocabulary. (The New York Times, March 17th, 2006)

	UK 'missing out on foreign study' British students are missing out studying part of their university course in another European country, the EC says. (BBC News, March 17th, 2006)

	Doctors training in sign language Junior doctors in NI are being trained in sign language to communicate effectively with the deaf. (BBC News, March 13th, 2006)

	Signs putting Cornish on the map The campaign to keep the Cornish language alive is taking to the county's streets. (BBC News, March 10th, 2006)

	Schools language decline concerns Projects are being introduced in schools to combat a decline in children learning foreign languages. (BBC News, March 10th, 2006)

	Changes are needed over languages In this reader's article, Colin McDonald says a new mindset is required to learn other languages. (BBC News, March 8th, 2006)

	The wrist-slapping correctitude over punctuation Good punctuation is mourned as a lost art. But the best writing is full of mistakes - and that's why it's exciting. (The Guardian, March 6th, 2006)

	Cash to rescue lost local words A project to prevent the local dialect in the North East (UK) from dying out is awarded a lottery grant. (BBC News, March 5th, 2006)

	School signing to welcome pupil Staff and pupils at a Devon school are learning sign language to communicate with one of the school's newest pupils. (BBC News, March 3rd, 2006)

	Overseas students prove better than Britons at English British students have a poorer grasp of spelling, grammar and the English language than their peers from overseas, research by Imperial College, London, suggests. (The Times, March 2nd, 2006)

	Irish language skills lure Amazon Amazon is moving its European customer service centre to the Irish Republic because of local language talents. (BBC News, March 2nd, 2006)

	Parents 'threaten' Welsh language Children's success at learning Welsh hinges on the language used in the home, a study in Bangor finds. (BBC News, March 1st, 2006)

	Fussball and beer drinking England football fans heading to Germany for the World Cup can get free language classes. Past participle, anyone? (BBC News, March 1st, 2006)

August 2005
	Icelanders speak up for languages
	East End Cockney accent 'fading'
	Muslims 'want surmons in English'
	More...

September 2005
	Manx Gaelic revival 'impressive'
	UK 'loves languages after all'
	Tingo, nakkele and other wonders
	More...

January 2006
	Web to preserve Romani heritage
	Mind your PMQs? It's eff this and eff that
	The C word
	More...

August 2006
	Armageddon isn't upon us
	Tongue-tied
	Why are fewer students choosing to study foreign languages at GCSE?
	More...

What do you think about your local accent?

The British Isles has seven officially recognised minority languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority languages. They are: Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Irish Gaelic, Cornish, Lowland Scots, Ulster Scots and British Sign Language.