Stories written by

Simon Horobin, The Conversation

Five words that don’t mean what you think they do

Their earliest meanings reveal things that are quite different from the way we know them.

Simon Horobin, The Conversation
· Apr 05, 2021 · 08:30 am
Philip Pullman’s ‘His Dark Materials’: How to decode the story’s linguistic secrets

Pullman achieves an eerie blend of familiarity and strangeness through his use of language.

Simon Horobin, The Conversation
· Nov 26, 2019 · 05:30 pm
Five common English words we may all be using incorrectly (because mistakes are perpetuated)

‘Gravy’ is not the right word, and nor, it seems, is ‘curry’.

Simon Horobin, The Conversation
· Oct 31, 2019 · 05:30 pm

Beware the bad big wolf: Why you need to put your adjectives in the right order

The use of adjectives in English has caused an internet storm – here are the 'rules' explained.

Simon Horobin, The Conversation
· Sep 08, 2016 · 11:30 pm
The book of 'The BFG' movie reminds us that wordplay is part of learning and mastering language

Roald Dahl shows how his confusion is often due to the ambiguity of a language where one word may have multiple meanings.

Simon Horobin, The Conversation
· Jul 28, 2016 · 08:30 am
What will the English language be like in 100 years?

As features of English are increasingly mingled with those of other native tongues and their pronunciations, the future of English is one of many Englishes.

Simon Horobin, The Conversation
· Nov 12, 2015 · 02:30 pm

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Simon Horobin, The Conversation

Five words that don’t mean what you think they do

Their earliest meanings reveal things that are quite different from the way we know them.

Simon Horobin, The Conversation · Apr 05, 2021 · 08:30 am

Philip Pullman’s ‘His Dark Materials’: How to decode the story’s linguistic secrets

Pullman achieves an eerie blend of familiarity and strangeness through his use of language.

Simon Horobin, The Conversation · Nov 26, 2019 · 05:30 pm

Five common English words we may all be using incorrectly (because mistakes are perpetuated)

‘Gravy’ is not the right word, and nor, it seems, is ‘curry’.

Simon Horobin, The Conversation · Oct 31, 2019 · 05:30 pm

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Beware the bad big wolf: Why you need to put your adjectives in the right order

The use of adjectives in English has caused an internet storm – here are the 'rules' explained.

Simon Horobin, The Conversation · Sep 08, 2016 · 11:30 pm

The book of 'The BFG' movie reminds us that wordplay is part of learning and mastering language

Roald Dahl shows how his confusion is often due to the ambiguity of a language where one word may have multiple meanings.

Simon Horobin, The Conversation · Jul 28, 2016 · 08:30 am

What will the English language be like in 100 years?

As features of English are increasingly mingled with those of other native tongues and their pronunciations, the future of English is one of many Englishes.

Simon Horobin, The Conversation · Nov 12, 2015 · 02:30 pm

Video

Eco India: How climate resilient fox nuts are helping Bihar's farmers tackle crop losses

Nov 17, 2024 · 08:55 am

Eco India, Episode 274: How worsening environmental conditions call for action and innovation

Nov 16, 2024 · 03:25 pm

Eco India: Kanpur's tanneries adopt sustainable practices to cut environmental impact

Nov 10, 2024 · 08:55 am

Eco India, Episode 273: How cleaner alternatives pave way for a sustainable future

Nov 09, 2024 · 03:25 pm

Watch: Crises of belonging and citizenship in Assam

Nov 07, 2024 · 03:30 pm

Take Scroll With You

Simon Horobin, The Conversation
· Apr 05, 2021 · 08:30 am

Simon Horobin, The Conversation
· Nov 26, 2019 · 05:30 pm

Simon Horobin, The Conversation
· Oct 31, 2019 · 05:30 pm

Simon Horobin, The Conversation
· Sep 08, 2016 · 11:30 pm

Simon Horobin, The Conversation
· Jul 28, 2016 · 08:30 am

Simon Horobin, The Conversation
· Nov 12, 2015 · 02:30 pm