Evolving English at British Library
When
12 November 2010 -
03 April 2011
See event description
Where
British Library
Cost
Free
Age Restrictions
n/a
Evolving Engish at British Library is a unique exhibtion dedicated to exploring the nature of the English language as it is spoken and written by 1.8 billion people around the world. Featuring a selection of exhibits ranging from 1,000 year old poetry to Victorian pronunciation guides, this is your chance to see just how much English has changed in the past and where it is going in the 21st century.
Evolving English at British Library
Bringing together a swathe of influential texts from across the history of written English, the exhibition Evolving English: One Language, Many Voices takes a closer look at the developing nature of our mother tongue and sees just how significant changes have been made. Influenced by religion, politics, technology, economics and all aspects of high and low culture, the English language is constantly changing and adapting, as shown by everything from Anglo Saxon runes to contemporary rap.
Literary highlights
Many of the artefacts on show at Evolving English at British Library are extremely important in that they were hugely significant documents at the time and became very influential on other writers and books. Included in the exhibition is an example of the earliest surviving copy of the Anglo Saxon poem Beowulf, the first book printed in English by William Caxton and his groundbreaking press, and a copy of the first letter written in English by an English king.
The Queen's English
With the rise in popularity of the Received Pronunciation style of speaking English and various books reminding us how to spell, use grammar and speak or write correctly, the exhibition also takes the opportunity to look at just how long the nation has bemoaned its illiterate classes. A 19th century booklet on not dropping your Hs is on show as part of Evolving English at British Library, reminding the middle classes to try and sound more upper class when they spoke. And for those that are outraged by the enormous surge in TXT speak over the past few years, a collection of poems from America will shock puritan Lynn Truss types as it shows the use of abbreviated words in number and letter style dating back to 1867.
Different voices
Alongside a selection of iconic books and manuscripts, many other articles reflecting social and cultural standards of speech will are also on show, including posters, comics, adverts, children's books and examples from the web. Spoken voices are also up for scrutiny as the library attempts to collect as many different voices, dialects and accents as possible from visitors. Once you have recorded your own version of Mr Tickle into the system, you can then compare your voice with those of Pankhurst, Churchill, Gandhi and Mandela.
The exhibition Evolving English at British Library is open from 9.30am - 6pm Monday, 9.30am - 8pm Tuesday, 9.30am - 6pm Wednesday - Friday, 9.30am - 5pm Saturday and 11am - 5pm Sunday, from Friday 12th November 2010 - Sunday 3rd April 2011. Entrance is free.
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Other Events at British Library
Jun 9, 3.30pm-5pm
Jun 11, 9.30am-5pm
From Jul 25, Mon, Wed-Fri 9.30am-6pm, Tue 9.30am-8pm, Sat 9.30am-5pm, Sun 11am-5pm, Aug 27, 11am-5pm, ends Sep 9
From May 11, Mon, Wed-Fri 10am-6pm, last admission 5pm, Tue 10am-8pm, last admission 7pm, Sat 10am-5pm, last admission 4pm, Sun 11am-5pm, last admission 4pm, ends Sep 25
Mon, Wed-Fri 9.30am-6pm, Tue 9.30am-8pm, Sat 9.30am-5pm, Sun, Bank Hols 11am-5pm, closed Dec 23-27, Jan 1