Tag Archives: prescriptivism

“Inputted” on the increase?

Posted on January 10, 2024 by Ingrid Tieken

On reading a PhD thesis from the University of Sheffield on the phonology of West Cornwall English (excellent data collection, detailed and very meticulous methodology description) I encountered the word inputted, which set me thinking. The context was very clearly … Continue reading →

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Soon coming out

Posted on November 30, 2023 by Ingrid Tieken

New Horizons in Prescriptivism Research, edited by Nuria Yáñez‐Bouza, María E. Rodríguez‐Gil and Javier Pérez‐Guerra, will by published by Multilingual Matters in the Spring. Congratulations, editors! Looking forward to seeing the book in print soon! Further details here.

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The Routledge prescriptivism handbook

Posted on June 14, 2023 by Ingrid Tieken

My copy has arrived, and I’m immensely pleased to be holding it in my hands at last! Some figures: 1 book 3 editors, 2 members of the editorial board 3 parts, 26 papers plus 1 introduction and 1 afterword 45 … Continue reading →

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Ian McEwan’s metalinguistic comments

Posted on January 2, 2023 by Ingrid Tieken

During the final month of 2022 I read two of Ian McEwan’s novels, an earlier one, Saturday (2005), and his most recent Lessons (2022). Ever since reading his short story “Mother tongue” (2001) I’ve been keeping track of his metalinguistic … Continue reading →

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Interactive TeamWork survey

Posted on July 28, 2022 by BtU Admin

On 28 October 2022, TeamWork will be organising a workshop session, called “The mysteries of brackets and old grammar chestnuts”. For more information as well as to register for this event, see the TeamWork website. One of the workshops will … Continue reading →

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Is there a German complaint tradition?

Posted on December 14, 2021 by Ingrid Tieken

Milroy and Milroy, in Authority in Language (first published in 1985, but with a fourth edition in 2012), argue that English has a complaint tradition, with people writing Letters to the Editor about linguistic problems they encounter and usage guides … Continue reading →

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Roadkill’s scriptwriters

Posted on October 22, 2021 by Ingrid Tieken

For a paper I’m writing on the use of who/whom I’m trying to get in touch with the scriptwriters of Roadkill, a British political thriller series that was broadcast in the UK and the US towards the end of 2020 … Continue reading →

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Le Carré’s main character spinning in his grave

Posted on October 17, 2021 by Ingrid Tieken

Reading another spy novel by John Le Carré, this time Absolute Friends (2003), I didn’t expect to come across any metalinguistic comments relating to prescriptivism since most of the novel is situated in Germany. But I did find this absolute … Continue reading →

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The project continues …

Posted on September 1, 2021 by Ingrid Tieken

The Bridging the Unbridgeable project officially ended nearly five years ago, but almost all of us are presenting a paper at the next Prescriptivism Conference, held online (no fee!) at the University of Vigo from 23 – 25 September 2021. … Continue reading →

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Lowth in the Economist

Posted on February 17, 2020 by Ingrid Tieken

It doesn’t happen very often that Lowth (or indeed myself!) gets a mention in The Economist! Thanks, Alison, for letting us know. (Can anyone help me find the author of the piece? I’d like to tell him/her about my new … Continue reading →

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