Faith, language, and science. Each has its own incantations — words that carry the weight of mystery, pointing beyond themselves to something immense. “Viking, North Utsire…” or “Isua Greenstone Belt” — they open a window to worlds far from sight but close to wonder.

Learning a language is not just about rules and labels. It’s about paying attention, learning to spot patterns and feeling how words behave. Grammar becomes interesting and relevant when it no longer seems like a set of abstract terms, but a way of noticing.

How do we use phrases without being aware of the literal meaning of the elements that comprise them?

Native fluency, basic rules of grammar and deep grammatical knowledge are quite different things.

The question "What to teach them?" has evolved into "What will we learn together?" And that, I've learned, makes all the difference.

We choose our language like we choose our clothes — not just for their basic function, but for how we want to feel in them.

Language will find its own way - or rather, people will find their own ways to use the amazing sounds that we humans create.

I used to be a language Nazi: bristling at incorrect usage and correcting people willy-nilly - even family members - until …

English spelling is at best a rough guide to pronunciation rather than an authoritative hard and fast reference.

What happens when glottal stops become the norm? Danish happens.

Having studied a number of languages and having taught English to Ukrainian and Syrian refugees for the last three years, I realise just how little use English spelling is as a guide to English pronunciation.

"You guys's" may not be elegant, but as a pragmatic plural it’s very functional and very English.

How come so many people know the word embouchure and know roughly what it means?

THE KEY QUESTIONS OF LIFE (AND DEATH)
- WHAT DO I NEED?
- WHAT ACTIONS COULD I PERFORM?
- WHAT DO CIRCUMSTANCES ALLOW?
SO... WHAT'S THE BEST THING TO DO NEXT?

For me, these Euros ticked all the boxes. The fact that it was women playing made it even more entertaining. What a cast of characters!

Whatever your news diet, do you ever ask yourself: how are they paying for this? how are you paying for this? And what does that mean for what you’re being shown?

I’m not grinding toward some finish line; I’m cultivating a relationship with these things that speak to something essential in me..

Relying on the USA to defend Europe from Russia has proved to be a very weak and stupid strategy. Trump has exposed the weakness and stupidity.

For me, disembodied “Learning About” is, at best, an appetizer for the real thing. That’s why I love the saying: “Knowledge is only a rumour until it’s in the muscle.”

Afer the death of Zakir Hussein, I have been casting my gaze apprehensively over other “stars” who have illuminated my musical firmament all these decades