Close message Due to maintenance between 17:00 to 21:00 on Tuesday 14th May 2024, Scootle website may face disruption in service. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Search results

Refine by resource type

Refine by year level


Refine by learning area


Refine by topic

Main topic
  • No suggestions
Specific topic
  • No suggestions
Related topic
  • No suggestions

Your search returned 38 results

Listed under:  Language  >  Natural languages  >  English language
Audio

Big Ideas: Evolving English and the impact of television

  • TLF-IDM015582

Imagine if the English language never evolved. What would we be speaking? Possibly Old English, the language of the Anglo-Saxon tribes, a language written down using runes known as the 'futhorc'. English continues to evolve, but it takes the media to bring new words into common usage. So which form of media is responsible ...

View detailsView resource
Audio

Big Ideas: Evolving English and the role of social media

  • TLF-IDM015587

How many times have you heard teenagers berated for using the term 'like'? Yet this term has existed at least since 1586 when the term, 'Yon man is like out of his mind' was written into history. The truth is, our language is constantly evolving, with new words added, others dying off and some resurfacing again. In this ...

View detailsView resource
Video

BTN: What is debating?

  • TLF-IDM020584

Well, come along to round six of the 2015 National Schools Debating Championships to find out! What are the rules of debating? And what are the speakers judged on? As BTN reporter Carl Smith explains, in order to make a good argument, you need to try to prove that your ideas are right and your opposition's ideas are wrong. ...

View detailsView resource
Video

Can We Help?: Conquest: the process of language change

  • TLF-IDM015525

When the Normans conquered England in 1066, they brought a lot more than fancy clothes and castles; they also brought the French language. Discover the impact that this momentous event continues to have today.

View detailsView resource
Video

Can We Help?: New meanings: the processes of language change

  • TLF-IDM015544

Have you ever engaged in a bit of argle-bargle? It's the original form of a colloquialism you might be more familiar with: argy-bargy. But where does this phrase come from? Etymology is the study of the history and evolution of words. In this clip Professor Kate Burridge explains the origins of this curious phrase and other words.

View detailsView resource
Video

Can We Help?: Shakespeare words: the process of language change

  • TLF-IDM015523

Imagine being responsible for inventing over 1700 words! That is the legacy of William Shakespeare, one of the greatest writers in the English language. Most of these words were created through translations of Latin words or by combining words with prefixes and suffixes in original ways. In this clip, you'll discover the ...

View detailsView resource
Video

Can We Help?: Vanishing words: the process of language change

  • TLF-IDM015518

The English language is full of strange contradictions and vanishing words. Have you ever wondered why we sometimes put words together that contradict each other, such as 'pretty awful' or 'terribly good'? If we can be 'ruthless', can we be 'ruthly' as well? Watch as Professor Kate Burridge explains these curious irregularities ...

View detailsView resource
Video

Come to a poetry slam!

  • TLF-IDM020629

Do you love words and the way they sound out loud? Have you ever been to a poetry slam? The Bankstown poetry slam is a monthly spoken word competition that celebrates the cultural diversity of south west Sydney. Slam poets perform original poems on any subject in front of a live audience. Recently the first Poetry Slam ...

View detailsView resource
Video

Creating characters with Sally Rippin

  • TLF-IDM020130

Listen as Sally Rippin talks about how her characters come to life. What does she say about the link between the writer and the characters they create? Why does she say that imagination is like a muscle?

View detailsView resource
Video

David Malouf on violence in literature

  • TLF-IDM019980

Do you think we live in a violent world? Do you agree with David Malouf when he says that violence is everywhere? Should stories reflect what is happening in the world? How do you feel about violence as a theme in literature?

View detailsView resource
Video

David Williamson on inspiration

  • TLF-IDM020089

Listen as David Williamson explains where he finds inspiration for his plays. What are his aims as a playwright?

View detailsView resource
Video

Developing script ideas with Hannie Rayson

  • TLF-IDM019983

How do you come up with ideas to write about? Watch this clip to find out how Australian playwright and screenwriter Hannie Rayson begins her writing process. She begins with a "big question" - if you were writing a play, what big question would you ask?

View detailsView resource
Video

Evolving English: Where do new words come from?

  • TLF-IDM017545

What do you think the term Spanglish might mean? Or Chinglish? Or Franglais? Our language is constantly changing and one way in which it does so is by 'borrowing' words from other languages. In this clip, learn about our evolving language.

View detailsView resource
Video

Exploring internal drama with David Malouf

  • TLF-IDM019970

Listen as David Malouf describes the kind of drama he is fascinated by. What is the difference between the 'internal' and 'external' drama he refers to? Try writing a story that explores an internal drama. What kind of discovery will your character make about themselves?

View detailsView resource
Video

Exploring themes with David Williamson

  • TLF-IDM020090

Watch this clip to learn about David Williamson's background and what themes fascinate him as a playwright. What ideas does he enjoy exploring in his plays?

View detailsView resource
Video

Four Corners: Core speech with extras, thanks

  • TLF-IDM017843

A national survey in the 1960s indicated that the use of spoken English was surprisingly similar throughout Australia. This challenged the notion of 'regionalism', which suggested that people from different places would use language in different ways. In this clip, two leading academics discuss regionalism and suggest that ...

View detailsView resource
Video

Four Corners: I speak, you guess

  • TLF-IDM017861

Listen to the voices of a small selection of students from around Australia to see if you can guess where they live. Is place the most important thing that shapes their language, or are there other factors that influence how people speak?

View detailsView resource
Video

Four Corners: Pretty polly How politicians speak

  • TLF-IDM017862

If politicians are the 'voice of the people', does their way of speaking resemble that of the people? In this clip from 1975, listen to Professor John S Gunn describe what he sees as a uniquely Australian rhythm of speech. Then see how many similarities and differences you can find as you listen to some brilliant imitations ...

View detailsView resource
Video

Four Corners: Pronunciation wars

  • TLF-IDM017844

How much attention must broadcasters pay to the pronunciation of words? Watch language experts and ABC staff discussing the preferred pronunciation of 'Don Quixote', a fictional Spaniard who appears in the novel bearing his name and in several significant artistic works. This clip reveals the importance placed upon the ...

View detailsView resource
Video

Hannie Rayson on the Australian voice in theatre

  • TLF-IDM019984

How important do you think it is to hear Australian stories told on stage? Listen as Hannie Rayson explains her early beliefs about where great drama comes from. After watching this clip, try writing a dramatic scene that takes place at a family barbeque.

View detailsView resource