Linguistics

Watched a fascinating tv programme last night about the development of the English language (British not American) since the Sixties. The people interviewed were very knowledgeable and made some interesting points. For instance, that it was the combined influence of the Beatles and Radio Caroline that opened the BBC up to regional accents; and that since English 'borrowed' about 50-100,000 French words in the middle ages, many of the English words France is now objecting to started life as French. LOL

The most telling point of all related to the English language's ability to absorb new words and phrases, thereby refreshing itself and keeping itself alive. Or, as one contributor put it, English tends to lead foreign languages up dark alleys and mug them for all their best words. LOL. One linguistics professor stated categorically that this was the single most important reason why English is the current world-language while French is not. Fascinating stuff.