Latin – Language on the Move

Language in Australia Next Gen Literacies

(dis)possession and (un)belonging

The logo on the side of the bus shelter Latin at the bus stop Recently, I was out for a walk when it started to rain. Seeking shelter in…

Ingrid PillerMarch 15, 2022

Multilingual histories

Is English spelling an insult to human intelligence?

One of countless internet memes about crazy English spelling (Source: angmohdan.com) During a dreary German winter in the 1980s, I would get up early each Friday morning, wrap myself up…

Ingrid PillerAugust 10, 2020

Language and globalization

More on banal cosmopolitanism

My banal cosmopolitan fridge magnets In response to my post about the banal cosmopolitanism of multilingual welcome signs last week, a number of people suggested that they quite enjoy finding…

Ingrid PillerNovember 6, 2017

Next Gen Literacies

Literacy – the power code

U.S. Vice President Pence ignores NASA "DO NOT TOUCH" sign. Would anyone else get away with such illiterate behavior? “Literacy” is one of those words that everyone uses as a…

Ingrid PillerAugust 7, 2017

Language and globalization

Have we just seen the beginning of the end of English?

One way of looking at the outcome of the British referendum is to understand it as an act of self-sabotage: "...and in the end, Britain, which had colonized the world,…

Ingrid PillerJune 25, 2016

Language and law

Frightful language tests

Trial by fire depicted in a medieval manuscript (Source: Wikipedia) In the Middle Ages those suspected of witchcraft were often subjected to a ‘trial by fire’ to prove their innocence…

Ingrid PillerJuly 15, 2015

Language learning

On learning languages and the gaining of wisdom

The National Institute of the English Language in Tehran has used the slogan "A new language is a new life" for more than 50 years I’m preparing my lecture on…

Ingrid PillerJanuary 13, 2014

Multilingual histories

Erasing diversity

Barely legible today but evidence of 'super-diversity' in the 9th century: Runic graffiti in Hagia Sophia On a parapet in Hagia Sophia’s gallery there is an obscure little graffiti written…

Ingrid PillerJune 21, 2013

Intercultural communication

Polish refugee section of the Catholic cemetery in Tehran When Kimie Takahashi and myself interviewed participants for Japanese on the Move, our video exhibition of transnational life-stories, one of our…

Ingrid PillerJune 3, 2013

Linguistic landscapes

Multilingual Macau

The front cover of the tourist map of multilingual Macau Last week I had the privilege of visiting the University of Macau and in Macau I discovered yet another unique…

Ingrid PillerApril 22, 2013

Intercultural communication

Condoms in translation

Condoms in translation It’s been impossible to escape this week’s media coverage of the pope’s comments about condoms and male prostitutes. There has been a lot of debate about what…

Ingrid PillerNovember 28, 2010

Language at work

Language in the catfish war

Language in the catfish war I’ve just read False Economy and in addition to learning many new intriguing things about economic history, I’ve also learnt that the catfish war, was,…

Ingrid PillerNovember 13, 2010