English as a Global Language – Page 12

Linguistic landscapes

The f-word on the move

Installment #7 in the mini-series on multilingual signage When I lived in Basel in Switzerland, my then-preschool child was just learning to make sense of the alphabet and to sound…

Ingrid PillerMay 22, 2010

Linguistic landscapes

English, the non-language

Installment #2 in the mini-series on multilingual signage Much of the signage that can be found in contemporary public spaces is commercial. It is a form of advertising, and language…

Ingrid PillerApril 29, 2010

Linguistic landscapes

The magic of English

Over the next few weeks my introductory sociolinguistics students are doing a group work task in which they explore the linguistic landscape in their suburb and relate the visibility of…

Ingrid PillerApril 27, 2010

Research reflections

In Memoriam Erwin Koller

I am deeply saddened by the passing of Erwin Koller, one of my teachers and mentors, in Lisbon this weekend. It’s a special gift when teacher and student become friends…

Ingrid PillerApril 22, 2010

Language learning

Warning: Global English may harm your mental health

About ten years ago an overseas student from South Korea who was about to fail a unit I was teaching left a suicide note under my office door. She described…

Ingrid PillerMarch 16, 2010

English as a global language

Child pornography and English language learning

“Child pornography and English language learning”?! Could there be a connection?! Difficult to believe but true - I’m referring to a best selling English phrase book for Japanese high school…

Kimie Takahashi 高橋君江March 8, 2010

Linguistic landscapes

On the fine line between humour and racism

The supermarkets of Germany are the site of a more sinister example of multilingual diversity marketing. The pictured chip packet leaps off the shelf with its mix of German, English…

Emily FarrellJanuary 18, 2010

Linguistic landscapes

Transliterated brand names

London Dairy ad on a building in Abu Dhabi, UAE Igloo ad on truck in Abu Dhabi, UAE I’ve just come across a 2006 University of South Africa MA thesis investigating…

Ingrid PillerJanuary 15, 2010

Language at work

Multilingual diversity marketing

As the UAE is still abuzz with the opening of the Burj Khalifa, I thought a post to mark the occasion might be in order. Seeing that I’m blogging on…

Ingrid PillerJanuary 10, 2010

Next Gen Literacies

More on Korean linguistic exports

Not only is Korean an increasingly popular choice of study as a foreign language, now South Korea is also promoting the use of the Hangul script to write languages other…

Ingrid PillerJanuary 3, 2010

Language politics

Finally, today on Day 3 of our conference on Fostering Multiliteracies Through Education: Middle Eastern Perspectives someone asked “Where is the Arabic?” “How come a conference devoted to multilingualism and…

Ingrid PillerDecember 20, 2009

Research reflections

Fostering Multiliteracies: 2nd conference day

Our two plenary speakers It’s easy to have a good time at a conference on the spectacular campus of the American University of Sharjah and with such a great group of…

Ingrid PillerDecember 19, 2009

Research reflections

Fostering multiliteracies: 1st conference day

Exciting first day at the conference on “Fostering multiliteracies through education: Middle Eastern Perspectives” at the American University of Sharjah. Suresh Canagarajah, who blogs on academic writing and publishing in…

Ingrid PillerDecember 18, 2009

Language learning

Korean beats French

If you could choose to learn a foreign language, which one would it be? And why? Such choices are usually constrained by what is on offer. However, someone must choose…

Ingrid PillerDecember 14, 2009

Language at work

How (not) to address airline passengers

Terms of address in intercultural communication can be a tricky business as Kimiesan pointed out recently. One would think that airlines with their international customer base and tons of market…

Ingrid PillerNovember 30, 2009

Linguistic landscapes

Ridiculous English signs

Ridiculous English signs English speakers sometimes like to amuse themselves with ridiculous English signage from around the world. www.engrish.com is a typical example and I have to admit that there…

Ingrid PillerNovember 26, 2009

The f-word on the move

English, the non-language

The magic of English

In Memoriam Erwin Koller

Warning: Global English may harm your mental health

Child pornography and English language learning

On the fine line between humour and racism

Transliterated brand names

Multilingual diversity marketing

More on Korean linguistic exports

Where is the Arabic?

Fostering Multiliteracies: 2nd conference day

Fostering multiliteracies: 1st conference day

Korean beats French

How (not) to address airline passengers

Ridiculous English signs

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