Landmarks of English

We’ve had our say in 'A History of the English Language in 100 Places'. From Peterborough to Poldhu; from Lichfield to Liverpool; from Bruges to Boston USA; from Salford to Singapore there are many places across the world which we consider are landmarks for the English language. Now we want you to share your landmark places, the locations where you see linguistic footprints connected to English today.

Add your Landmark of English

Email this page

'The Making of English in India' by David Graddol

The East India Company arrived at Surat in India in 1607. David will explore the role it played in expanding the use of English in India, focusing especially on events leading up to the infamous Macaulay's Minute in 1835, regarded by many Indians today as the moment English was 'imposed' on the country. The historic evidence suggests a story which is much more complex, involving many public figures of the time, and which provides interesting parallels for the rise of English in corporate India today.

David is an acclaimed linguist perhaps best known for his ground-breaking 1997 book The future of English?, published by the British Council, in which he offered a number of compelling scenarios for how English as a world language might develop. Most notably, he pointed out that native speakers of English are or will soon be outnumbered by those who speak English as a second or foreign language.

While rooted in the history of the East India Company, David's lecture will stimulate a contemporary conversation about the continuing story of English in India today, a fitting celebration of the Anglo-Indian cultural collaboration in 2017. Doors open at 17:45. The lecture is free but registration is required. Click here for more details

Latest Location Lingo

Torbados (Locality: Torbay)
Beastly Eastleigh (Town: Eastleigh)
Hooligan (Village: Illogan)
Cambodia (Town: Camborne)
Cardboard Bay (Village: Carbis Bay)