Browse 36 OpenLearn articles contributed by Philip Seargeant

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  Ta, cheers, much obliged: A brief history of 'thanks' in English

  By Philip Seargeant

  There's more to just saying thank you than you think. Philip Seargeant delves into the fascinating linguistics of expressing gratitude. 

  Read now : Ta, cheers, much obliged: A brief history of 'thanks' in English

  Article

  5 mins

  Updated on:

  06 Jan 2025

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  Black Blue Plaques

  By Philip Seargeant, Korina Giaxoglou, Frank Monaghan

  This film explores the under-representation of Black heritage and the linguistic landscape in relation to Blue Plaques.

  Watch now : Black Blue Plaques

  Video

  5 mins

  Level: 1 Introductory

  Updated on:

  09 Jul 2024

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  Swearing today: have our attitudes changed?

  By Philip Seargeant

  Are people less fussed about swearing today than they were in the past? This article (with an associated film ‘Why do we swear?’) looks at attitudes towards offensive language.

  Read now : Swearing today: have our attitudes changed?

  Article

  5 mins

  Level: 1 Introductory

  Updated on:

  05 Jun 2024

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  Commemorating Lord Byron on the streets of London

  By Philip Seargeant, Selina Packard

  On the 200th anniversary of Lord Byron’s death, we explore the history of his commemoration, and how this sheds light on our understanding of English heritage.

  Read now : Commemorating Lord Byron on the streets of London

  Article

  5 mins

  Level: 1 Introductory

  Updated on:

  22 Apr 2024

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  How Elvish has had greater impact than Esperanto

  By Philip Seargeant

  Why has Tolkien's fantasy language had a greater impact than those who attempted to engineer a universal language?

  Read now : How Elvish has had greater impact than Esperanto

  Article

  5 mins

  Level: 1 Introductory

  Updated on:

  13 Jan 2024

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  The age of offence

  By Philip Seargeant

  From ‘cancel culture’ to ‘wokeness’ to the ‘culture wars’, many of the terms that define our age are related to the idea of ‘offence’. Watch this documentary series to explore the role which offensive language plays in our language and politics.

  Watch now : The age of offence

  Video

  30 mins

  Level: 1 Introductory

  Updated on:

  09 Nov 2023

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  Creativity and artificial intelligence

  By Philip Seargeant

  Is artificial intelligence capable of being creative? This animation and associated article looks at the meaning of 'creativity' and whether machines can carry out creative tasks.

  Watch now : Creativity and artificial intelligence

  Video

  5 mins

  Level: 1 Introductory

  Updated on:

  18 Oct 2023

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  Horror and politics

  By Philip Seargeant

  How Ken Russell’s Gothic foregoes radical politics in favour of sex and necromancy.

  Read now : Horror and politics

  Article

  5 mins

  Level: 1 Introductory

  Updated on:

  12 Sep 2023

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  Is the blue plaque scheme still relevant?

  By Dr Lauren O'Hagan, Philip Seargeant, Korina Giaxoglou, Frank Monaghan

  A hundred and sixty years ago this month, the MP William Ewart stood up in the House of Commons to ask whether ‘it may be practicable to have inscribed on those houses in London which have been in habited by celebrated persons, the names of such persons’.

  Read now : Is the blue plaque scheme still relevant?

  Article

  5 mins

  Level: 1 Introductory

  Updated on:

  27 Jul 2023

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  A Clockwork Orange: ultraviolence, Russian spies and fake news

  By Philip Seargeant

  Cinemas have re-released 'A Clockwork Orange' as part of thhe British Film Institute's celebration of Stanley Kubrick. Here Philip Seargeant delves into the famous and film, and dystopia in popular culture.

  Read now : A Clockwork Orange: ultraviolence, Russian spies and fake news

  Article

  10 mins

  Level: 1 Introductory

  Updated on:

  09 Apr 2023