Changing words, changing worlds: English in an age of transformation

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Our World, Connected

British Council

35 episodes

2 days ago

Our World, Connected is a brand-new podcast from the British Council, placing you at the heart of the biggest global conversations about culture, connection, and empowerment. Join host Christine Wilson, Director of British Council Research and Insight, and a diverse lineup of world-renowned experts and thinkers as they examine the most pressing issues of our time - and uncover the human stories behind them. We’ll explore the transformative power of arts, culture, language, and education amidst global challenges like peacebuilding, sustainable development, climate change, and the growth of AI.

Society & Culture

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Society & Culture

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Changing words, changing worlds: English in an age of transformation

Our World, Connected

49 minutes 30 seconds

5 months ago

Changing words, changing worlds: English in an age of transformation

What does the future hold for the English language? And how is technology transforming the way we speak, write and connect across borders?

In this episode of Our World, Connected, host Christine Wilson explores how digital culture is reshaping the English language, from the rise of internet slang to the impact of AI, social media, and globalisation on how we communicate.

Christine is joined by renowned linguist and author David Crystal, one of the world’s leading experts on the English language. With more than 100 books to his name – including the landmark Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language – David reflects on how English has evolved over centuries, and what its future might look like in an increasingly digital world.

We also hear from César Bizetto, an English teacher, teacher trainer, and academic director based in São Paulo. With over 20 years of classroom experience, César shares how English language instruction has changed in Brazil, and why he believes teaching English is about more than grammar, it’s about opening doors.

Together, David and César explore how English is shifting across contexts, continents, and generations, and what that means for education, culture, and connection.

Listen to Our World, Connected, brought to you by the British Council. Subscribe and follow for more global stories on culture, connection, and the power of education.

Additional Resources & Links:

The Future of English research programme: https://www.britishcouncil.org/future-of-english

The Future of English: in conversation with David Crystal (March 2025)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64HRT797Lsc

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