English Language on Pitara Kids Network

Language Quiz: Proverbs

Sun, 26 Jan 2003 10:54:44 +0000

Proverbs are short sayings in frequent and widespread use that express a basic truth. A look at some popular proverbs from all around the world.

Ferret this Out!

Tue, 09 Apr 2002 15:24:31 +0000

Animals have their peculiar traits. No wonder many phrases in the English language are derived from them – even our headline.

English and Indlish

Fri, 15 Sep 2000 10:59:46 +0000

July 15: Students are often rebuked for using what is known as ‘Indian English’ words. Perhaps these teachers need to know that many Indian words have actually become a part of an Oxford Dictionary.

The Asian Age newspaper reported that the Oxford Advance Learner’s Dictionary of Correct English has a section on Indian English. The section has 2,500 words The fifth edition of the dictionary was released recently.

Words like bandicoot, bungalow, jungle, chit, cushy, juggernaut are commonly known. But, there are others that most of us wouldn’t know had an Indian origin.

The 'English Pinch' in Bangladesh

Mon, 19 Apr 2004 04:27:57 +0000

What would you say if you saw a restaurant billboard saying “You be in our guest and please like any menu from arrangement ultimate sea food”?

Will you brush it aside thinking the billboard painter must be ‘uneducated’. Mark, when I say ‘uneducated’, I actually mean that he does not know English. For a lot of us, being educated also means knowing English.

But, can you brush aside an entire nation – Bangladesh – which has problems with its English? That does not mean people living in this country are not educated. They are, they have simply done their education in another language.