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Languages
Why is 'modern language' taken to mean 'European language'?
In education in the UK, 'modern languages' all too often means those of Northern Europe. Dr Jieun Kiaer argues that it's an attitude that's outdated.
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Languages
Understanding language and learning
Learning is understood broadly as any kind of activity, whether in a formal or informal context, that enhances an individual’s knowledge or skills in one way or another. The relationship between language and learning is approached in three ways: learning a language, learning about language and learning through language. This free course, ...
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Money & Business
Why do call centre staff use your name all the time, Chris?
Chris, if you've had to deal with a call centre you might have noticed they use your name a lot. Do you know, Chris, why they do this? Well, Chris, The OU's Anna Kristina Hultgren has investigated. Putting you through now, Chris.
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Languages
Sylvia Plath and the linguistics of depression
Could the type of language people use reveal something about their state of mind? A close reading of Sylvia Plath's journals suggest it might be possible.
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Languages
Language is collateral damage in the gig economy
As Deliveroo instructs its managers to avoid words that might make their team sound like employees, David Hann explores how some words have their own agendas.
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Languages
How can your accent put your life at risk?
Stories from Australia and the US reveal how dangerous it can be when listeners fail to take people seriously because of their accented English.
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Languages
What effect is social media having on the way we mourn global tragedies?
Is the outpouring of grief we see on social media after a terrorist attack or the death of a prominent figure a sincere expression of emotion, or more to do with self-promotion?
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Languages
Fast, fun, free: Try some of our Spanish language items
OpenLearn is full of short items where you can learn something fast, for free - and have some fun doing so. Here's a selection of easy ways to start with Spanish.
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Society, Politics & Law
Methods in Motion: Communicating a challenge to liberal democracy
Dr Georgina Blakeley, Senior Lecturer in Politics, offers one way of approaching the study of the Spanish anti-austerity 15M movement.
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Languages
Keep the quotes straight and the puns sharp: The creativity of translation
Professor Jeremy Munday, and professional translators Jutta Schettler and Jamie Bulloch talk about creativity in translation.
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History & The Arts
Writing across cultures
Xiaolu Guo explains how she approached her novel, A Concise Chinese–English Dictionary for Lovers - making creativity work across the English and Chinese languages
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Languages
Swapping between languages: Bilingual people expressing emotions
If you speak two languages, is the trigger to switch between them an emotional one? Hanan Ben Nafa has been investigating.