Category Archives: Language & consumerism

Pencils-on-the-move Pencils on the move

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Ingrid Piller

Sadly, my sabbatical is drawing to a close and one of the things to think about now is souvenirs. My sabbatical involved visits to Germany, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. My daughter has cousins and friends in each of … Continue reading →

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luxos_arab traveler Money talks

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Ingrid Piller

Those of us in the broad area of TESOL often labor under the assumption of the invincibility of English hegemony. Whether they deplore it or exult in it, many people assume that English is on a straight march to linguistic … Continue reading →

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IMG_2560 Happy Birthday, UAE!

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Ingrid Piller

The United Arab Emirates are celebrating another National Day! And they are doing it in style! I was lucky to enter the country exactly on its 40th birthday and so thought I should share the celebrations with Language-on-the-Move readers here … Continue reading →

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Language costs Language costs

Posted on November 25, 2011 by Ingrid Piller

USD 254,000: that is the cost of raising two children bilingually in English and German in Denver, Colorado. That’s a lot of money, and inspired me to do some number-crunching of my own. To begin with, it’s a reminder that … Continue reading →

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school vouchers Let’s reclaim our language!

Posted on August 21, 2011 by Ingrid Piller

Corporate double-speak is plummeting to ever lower depths and is insinuating itself into every aspect of our lives. Many see through this sustained assault on our collective intelligence, no doubt. Mike Carlton, for instance, nicely picked apart a corporate message … Continue reading →

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