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Spelling in the English GCSE among topics for language and linguistics conference

A group of students from the University of Kent's School of European Culture and Languages (SECL) has organised an undergraduate conference on the English language today.

Titled 'Kent's First Undergraduate Conference in English Language and Linguistics', the conference will take place at the University's Canterbury campus on Saturday 3 May.

Delegates will include sixth form pupils and university students from across the south-east, with 16 undergraduates presenting papers on a variety of themes. These will include an examination of current attitudes towards spelling in the English GCSE, accents of Folkestone, the attitudes of teachers of English as a foreign or second language to non-native varieties of English such as Indian English, pidgins and creoles such as Tok Pisin, the standard of English in school textbooks for foreign learners, language in Christianity and negative responses to requests in a retail environment.

The conference's plenary speaker will be the internationally renowned linguist Professor David Crystal, OBE, who will discuss his latest book, By Hook Or By Crook: A Journey in Search of English.

Jonathan Clarke, a final year student at SECL's English Language Unit and one of the conference organisers, said: 'Language is something that affects everyone from any walk of life, and is constantly changing and evolving. Many people have an interest in language without even realising it; talking about regional accents and dialects is a prime example of this. The conference is a great opportunity for lovers of language, on whatever level, to come together.'

Laura Macey, also a final year student at the English Language Unit and secretary of the conference committee, added: 'The response to the conference has been overwhelming. We have presenters coming from Brighton and Essex and some from Canterbury too. Everyone involved is really looking forward to the event.'

Contact: mediaoffice@kent.ac.uk

Story published at 2:20pm 30 April 2008