Category Archives: Language & consumerism

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 →

Posted in Language & consumerism | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

IMAG0770_2 Language consumption and mobility

Posted on July 4, 2011 by Vahid Parvaresh

In the past thirty years, Iran’s population has exploded from about 40 million to more than 72 million. Such rapid growth has resulted in the vast majority of the population now being under 30 years old with a median age … Continue reading →

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866933_japanese_stop_sign Not knowing English good for business?

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Ingrid Piller

The current global orthodoxy holds that learning English is good: individuals who know English are supposed to have an advantage in the job market and countries with large English-learning populations are supposed to be “developing” and “modernizing.” Critical sociolinguists have, … Continue reading →

Posted in Language & consumerism, Language & globalization | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Huge banner about Japanese food fair at Isetan, Bangkok Japanese in Bangkok

Posted on February 9, 2011 by Kimie Takahashi 高橋君江

I’ve never felt more welcome in a foreign city than where I am at the moment – Bangkok! It has to do with Thai people’s gorgeous smiles, but there is more to this city that makes me feel at home. … Continue reading →

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buyern انگلیسی، آن نا-زبان

Posted on February 7, 2011 by Ingrid Piller

Persian version of my blog post about English as the non-language of globalization. Translated by Niloufar Behrooz (نیلوفر بهروز) (نوشتار شماره ٢ در مجموعه نوشتار های کوتاه درباره ی نشانه های چند زبانه) اغلب تابلوهایی كه در مكان هایِ عمومیِ حالِ … Continue reading →

Posted in Language & consumerism, Language & globalization, فارسی | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments