Academy of Contemporary English: Difference between revisions
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*"campaign for the use of correct error-free English by the media" |
*"campaign for the use of correct error-free English by the media" |
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Likewise, according to the Academy's publications<ref>[http://www.academy-contemporary-english.org.uk/academy.html About the Academy of Contemporary English]</ref>, it claims not to: |
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The Academy claims not to: |
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*"tell people how they have to speak or write" |
*"tell people how they have to speak or write" |
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*"stand in the way of a natural evolution of the language" |
*"stand in the way of a natural evolution of the language" |
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*"police the language — people are free to use the language as they wish" |
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*"freeze the language —The Academy does not stand in the way of a natural evolution of the language." |
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==Reception== |
==Reception== |
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A ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'' editorial gave the Academy a warm reception,<ref>We need an Academy of English to save our beautiful language, by Gerald Warner. ''[[Daily Telegraph]] Education'', 8 June 2010.</ref> saying that "[t]he attempt by the Queen's English Society to create an Academy of English, on the model of the Académie Française, is both welcome and long overdue. Authoritative bodies exist to maintain the purity of the French, Spanish and Italian languages, but English has been left to fend for itself at a time when it is under unprecedented attack." |
A ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'' editorial gave the Academy a warm reception,<ref>We need an Academy of English to save our beautiful language, by Gerald Warner. ''[[Daily Telegraph]] Education'', 8 June 2010.</ref> saying that "[t]he attempt by the Queen's English Society to create an Academy of English, on the model of the Académie Française, is both welcome and long overdue. Authoritative bodies exist to maintain the purity of the French, Spanish and Italian languages, but English has been left to fend for itself at a time when it is under unprecedented attack." |
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Revision as of 17:04, 15 January 2011
 | The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia's general notability guideline. (December 2010) |
The Academy of Contemporary English is a body which seeks to improve the general use of English by providing an Internet reference and advisory service for members of the public.
The Academy was founded under the auspices of the Queen's English Society in 2008 by Martin Estinel, a retired English translator. Since 2008, The Academy has undergone many changes in content, presentation and approach; it was launched publicly in June 2010. The Queen's English Society had originally announced that it had formed an Academy of English, "because there has been a dreadful devaluation and deterioration of education in our hectic, modern, digitalised world."[1]
The Press reception following the launch of the Academy in June 2010 was mixed (see below), and in response an Academy Board of specialists had been formed by September 2010 and a new policy had adopted by the Queen's English Society under the direction of its chairman Rhea Williams.
The Academy is intended to cover functions not covered by the Queen's English Society itself, while still working together.
Objectives
According to the Academy's publications[2], the Academy aims to:
- "record Best Practice in the use of modern English by those who use it well"
- "provide a reference for good modern English usage"
- "point out common errors committed by those who do not use it well"
- "campaign for more effective teaching of English"
- "campaign for the use of correct error-free English by the media"
Likewise, according to the Academy's publications[3], it claims not to:
- "tell people how they have to speak or write"
- "stand in the way of a natural evolution of the language"
- "police the language — people are free to use the language as they wish"
- "freeze the language —The Academy does not stand in the way of a natural evolution of the language."
Reception
A Daily Telegraph editorial gave the Academy a warm reception,[4] saying that "[t]he attempt by the Queen's English Society to create an Academy of English, on the model of the Académie Française, is both welcome and long overdue. Authoritative bodies exist to maintain the purity of the French, Spanish and Italian languages, but English has been left to fend for itself at a time when it is under unprecedented attack."
The Times considered that if the Academy tried to make the rules of the English language or prevent the adoption of new words, then it would be unwelcome[citation needed]. The Guardian opined that "[a]n Academy of English won't succeed because the language is in a constant state of flux", believing that the Academy would seek to "protect the language from innovations".[5]
See also
External links
References
- ^ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/education/article7145147.ece
- ^ About the Academy of Contemporary English
- ^ About the Academy of Contemporary English
- ^ We need an Academy of English to save our beautiful language, by Gerald Warner. Daily Telegraph Education, 8 June 2010.
- ^ "The folly of preserving English in aspic" - by John Mullan, Monday 7 June 2010 The Guardian on-line [1]