In a piece for the University of Warwick's Knowledge Centre, Dr Chris Strelluf argues we should not simplify English spelling as the ancient hangovers, irregularities and frustrating rules of English spelling are what enables its continuity and a connection with billions of people across the globe argues. "We enjoy linguistic continuity because we endure bad spelling."

As part of the Guardian University Guide 2021, the Applied Linguistics department at Warwick alongside the School of Modern Languages and Cultures has been ranked 8th for the subject area ‘Modern Languages and Linguistics’: https://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2020/sep/05/the-best-uk-universities-2021-league-table

Additionally, University of Warwick overall was also ranked 8th in UK by the Guardian University Guide.

Dr Esther Asprey has been interviewed as a linguistic expert for the BBC Radio 4 programme ‘Tongue and Talk: The Dialect Poets’ discussing Black Country poetry, when dialect began to be written for entertainment and the literary scene today.

Presented by Emma Purshouse (Wolverhampton Poet Laureate), Esther will feature on Episode 4 ‘The Black Country’, which will air on 6th September 2020 at 16.30 https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000mbq5

We are delighted that our Senior Tutor Tilly Harrison has won a Warwick Awards for Personal Tutoring Excellence (WAPTE)! Many congratulations Tilly!

The excerpt below is from the official announcement and shows how much Tilly is providing the Applied Linguistics Community with.

Tilly Harrison has been the Senior Tutor in the Centre for Applied Linguistics for the past 10 years working closely with colleagues to build personal tutoring for their undergraduate provision. […]Her approach combines pastoral support, an emphasis on social integration in the department and university communities and academic and professional development for all students. Amongst her colleagues and students, Tilly is known as the ‘heart and soul’ for community cohesion and wellbeing initiatives and colleagues in the department acknowledge her consistently excellent contribution.

More details can be found here: https://warwick.ac.uk/services/dean-of-students-office/wapte/wapte1920/

Professor Helen Spencer-Oatey from Applied Linguistics has provided expert comment as part of a CNBC article on British attitudes toward face masks: ‘Most Brits just won’t wear face masks — here’s why’ https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/15/most-brits-just-wont-wear-face-masks-heres-why.html

The article also refers to Professor Helen Spencer-Oatey and Professor Perry Hinton’s expert comment piece from May 2020 examining ‘How does wearing a face mask become the cultural norm?’ looking at the East Asia context.

They also published a second piece ‘Will face masks become the norm in Europe?’ looking at what factors may make mask-wearing a cultural norm in Europe and the UK.

Dr Kieran File considers how the government’s messaging choices and strategies may have contributed to loosening of the public's collective will to stay in lockdown in a piece for the University of Warwick's Knowledge Centre.